The role of clothing on participation of persons with a physical disability: A scoping review.

Determining ways to facilitate participation of persons with a physical disability is crucial and clothing may play a central role. This review aims to synthesize and examine the role of clothing on participation of persons with a physical disability. Six research databases and grey literature were searched following Arksey & O'Malley's six steps, including multiple expert consultations. English and French articles contributing to how clothing affects participation were included and tabulated based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Fifty-seven articles and 88 websites were included. A variety of stakeholder perspectives, diagnoses, and types of clothing were represented. Clothing mostly influences mobility and self-care, as well as various personal factors. Forty-nine percent of articles reported essential clothing design features to consider. Clothing is an important and complex environmental factor that interacts with all health domains, including participation. Future research should consider intersectoral initiatives.

The role of clothing in participation of persons with a physical disability: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Clothing is an important aspect of nearly all human societies from performing social and cultural functions to indicating social status, a form of protection and a way for self-expression. It can help or hinder the ability to fulfil everyday activities and social roles and with the rising industry of wearable technologies, smart textiles are adding health-monitoring functions to clothing. The influence that clothing can have on the life of someone with a physical disability is significant, and further research is needed to understand it better. To achieve this, a scoping review will be performed with the aim of understanding the role of clothing in participation (ie, at home, in the community, etc) of individuals with a physical disability. This article presents the protocol and procedure to be adopted. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: An in-depth iterative analysis of the scientific literature from six databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO and ERIC) as well as a hand search of grey literature and reference lists will be performed. After an abstract and full-text review of references by three reviewers independently, data from the selected articles will be tabulated and synthesised with a qualitative and quantitative approach using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a unifying conceptual framework. A multidisciplinary consultation group of experts from various stakeholder groups will be involved in multiple steps to ensure validation and relevance of the data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: As this is a review involving analysis of data available in the public domain and does not involve human participants, ethical approval was not required. Results will be presented in a co-constructed format with the expert consultation group to ensure validity and maximise its practicality moving forward. Our dissemination plan includes peer-reviewed publications, presentations and stakeholder meetings.