Characteristics of occupational therapy journals of WFOT member countries: A descriptive survey

Abstract

There are many occupational therapy journals being published internationally, but little information is available about their characteristics. The purpose of this study was to gather relevant information about these journals. Examined are the journals' characteristics, the audiences they serve, the review process they use, the staff they employ, and the types of articles they publish. The study design was a descriptive survey format using an adapted version of the Survey of Editors Regarding Publishing Practices. Questionnaires were mailed to all the national occupational therapy associations that were members of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (n = 44) in September 1992. The response rate was 86.4% (n = 38). The survey results indicated that a typical occupational therapy journal was published six times a year, with 84% of it being text and 15% of it being advertising. In terms of submission of manuscripts, the preferred average length was 14 pages using American Psychological Association format specifications. Respondents indicated that, on average, occupational therapy journals received 33 manuscripts a year for review, 20 of those being accepted for publication with minor revision, five needing major revision and eight being rejected. Most occupational therapy journals indicated that they were peer-reviewed/refereed publications. The most frequently cited reasons for rejecting manuscripts submitted for consideration for publication were: (1) content inaccurate; (2) content not important/signi/icant; (3) poorly developed ideas; (4) methodology problems; (5) data interpretation problems; or (6) a poorly written manuscript. Most manuscripts published in occupational therapy journals have a clinical focus in the area of physical medicine or mental health. Results of the survey study are discussed and recommendations for future research are made. 1997 © Whurr Publishers Ltd.