Introduction: A holistic approach to treating the individual is a key link between mindfulness and occupational therapy. Mindfulness in occupational therapy practice can be understood as a state of conscious awareness during occupation and consequently as an effective method that allows individuals to live a life to the fullest despite their disability. Purpose: The purpose of the diploma was to define how mindfulness is being used and understood in occupational therapy and to find out the evidence for the use of mindfulness as an intervention in occupational therapy practice. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted. The search was carried out on internet database Digital Library of the University of Ljubljana in the following databases: Web of Science, Directory of Open Access Journals, Scoupus and MEDLINE. Additional literature obtained by manual review of references was also used. In the search, we used a combination of different keywords in English: mindfulness, occupational therapy, occupational therapist, mindfulness-based intervention, meditation. Full-text scientific or professional articles, published in English between 2011 and 2021 in the field of the use of mindfulness in occupational therapy were included in the analysis. Results: The final analysis included 15 articles. Most of the articles were published in occupational therapy journals and 2 articles were published in other journals. In selected studies, 5 different forms of mindfulness intervention emerged. There were a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 168 participants, aged 13 to 82 years, with various pathologies, as well as healthy participants. Discussion and conclusion: Mindfulness in occupational therapy is understood in different ways. Mindfulness in occupational therapy practice can be used as a means for achieving the goal or as an occupation itself. It is used in the form of formal and informal practices and as a personal therapist practice. Reasons for using mindfulness are: promoting a client-centered approach, bringing the context to OT, providing specific client's needs, improving therapeutic skills, enabling effective care and a positive relationship with clients. Evidence of research to use mindfulness as an intervention is: reducing stress, improving general well-being and quality of life, increasing engagement during occupations, enabling positive acceptance of the disease and pain, establishing a positive attitude towards life, affecting client's emotional and psychological state, improving relationships and ensuring optimal work with clients. Despite the findings, the current literature on the reviewed theme is mainly theoretical, research has many methodological shortcomings, so further research is needed for evidence-based practice.
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