Faculty profile

Helene Polatajko

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Professor EmeritusDepartment of Occupational Science & Occupational TherapyUniversity of Toronto

Helene Polatajko

Professor Emeritus

Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

University of Toronto

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Supervision signals

Emeritus professors are retired and rarely take new students.
25 publications in the last five years, latest in 2026.
Senior (last) author on 10 recent papers, a sign of leading a research group.
Principal investigator on 5 research grants (3 CIHR, 2 SSHRC), most recently in 2010.

These signals come from public records, including federal and provincial funding decisions. Ask the professor or the graduate program whether they are taking new students.

Academic metrics

352

Publications

13,311

Citations

Collaborators

Grants

Publications by year

Counts cover the publications linked to this profile. Citations and the h-index appear when the source records them.

Profiles and links

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Signals and details

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of Toronto profile.

Latest papers

Feasibility of applying the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach in a Danish municipal neurorehabilitation context
Clinical Rehabilitation · 2026
Reliability and validity of the performance quality rating scale (PQRS) in individuals with chronic stroke: A psychometric study
British Journal of Occupational Therapy · 2026 · senior author
Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement
2025 · senior author

All 352 publications

Latest funding

Improving the role functioning and resiliency of university students experiencing mental health problems using an enhanced supported education intervention
CIHR · 2017 · Co-investigator
$40,000
Evolution of evidence-based practice: evaluating the contribution of individual and contextual factors to optimize patient care
CIHR · 2016 · Co-investigator
$294,332
Children's Disabilities and Disorders - Taking the CO-OP Approach
CIHR · 2010 · Nominated PI
$9,970

All 9 grants and awards

From the 150 most recent of 352 publications.

Feasibility of applying the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach in a Danish municipal neurorehabilitation context

Tove Lise Nielsen, Helene J. Polatajko, Mette Brandi, Helene Windstrup Holst-Stensborg, Louise Møldrup Nielsen

Clinical Rehabilitation2026

DOI: 10.1177/02692155261465889 PMID: 42411983

Reliability and validity of the performance quality rating scale (PQRS) in individuals with chronic stroke: A psychometric study

Shiva Abedi, Nazila Akbarfahimi, Seyed Ali Hosseini, Soraya Gharebaghi, Ebrahim Pishyareh, Mohsen Vahedi, Helene J. Polatajko

British Journal of Occupational Therapy2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1177/03080226261466569

Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement

Jane A. Davis, Helene J. Polatajko

20255 citationsSenior author

DOI: 10.4324/9781003526766-13

The Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance

Rose Dinda Martini, Helene J. Polatajko

20254 citationsSenior author

DOI: 10.4324/9781003526766-15

The Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance approach in childhood‐onset disabilities

Hortensia Gimeno, Helene J. Polatajko

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology20254 citationsSenior authorOpen Access

DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.16260 PMID: 40033547

Perspectives on how evidence‐based practice changes over time: A qualitative exploration of occupational therapy and physical therapy graduates

Thomas A, Iqbal MZ, Roberge‐Dao J, Ahmed S, Bussières A, Debigaré R, Letts L, MacDermid JC, Paterson M, Polatajko HJ

Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice20253 citationsOpen Access

DOI: 10.1111/jep.14200

Brain-behavior correlates of rhythmic timing and auditory-motor synchronization in children with developmental coordination disorder: an EEG study.

Pranjić M, Leung J, Tam KL, Polatajko H, Welsh T, Chau T, Thaut M

Frontiers in human neuroscience20252 citationsOpen Access

DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2025.1602580 PMID: 40538594

Engagement in meaningful activities post suicide loss: A scoping review.

Gill M, Wu M, Pierre S, Joachim L, Premnazeer M, Scali O, Rizvi SJ, Renwick R, Polatajko H, Cameron JI

PloS one20251 citationsOpen Access

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0336640 PMID: 41248077

Comparing cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance and motivational interviewing in stroke rehabilitation: A protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Shiva Abedi, Nazila Akbarfahimi, Seyed Ali Hosseini, Soraya Gharebaghy, Ebrahim Pishyareh, Mohsen Vahedi, Helene J. Polatajko

British Journal of Occupational Therapy20251 citationsSenior authorOpen Access

DOI: 10.1177/03080226251369301 PMID: 42371513

Understanding the Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance: An Umbrella Review

Shiva Abedi, Nazila Akbarfahimi, Seyed Ali Hosseini, Soraya Gharebaghi, Ebrahim Pishyareh, Mohsen Vahedi, Helene J. Polatajko

Occupational Therapy In Health Care20251 citationsSenior author

DOI: 10.1080/07380577.2025.2589254 PMID: 41250285

Improving the role functioning and resiliency of university students experiencing mental health problems using an enhanced supported education intervention

Co-investigatorCIHR2017Patient-Oriented Research Collaboration Grants - New/Early Career Investigators

Principal investigators: Nalder, Emily J; Robb, Janine C; Kirsh, Bonnie

Keywords: Mental Health; Meta-Cognitive Strategy; Occupational Therapy; Post-Secondary Education; Resilience

$40,000

Evolution of evidence-based practice: evaluating the contribution of individual and contextual factors to optimize patient care

Co-investigatorCIHR2016Project Grant

Principal investigators: Thomas, Aliki; Lapointe, Julie; O'Connor, Kate; Rochette, Annie

Keywords: Behaviour Change; Determinants Of Practice; Evidence-Based Practice; Knowledge Translation; Longitudinal Study; Mixed Methods; Practice Change; Practice Improvements; Rehabilitation; Support And Barriers

$294,332

Children's Disabilities and Disorders - Taking the CO-OP Approach

Nominated PICIHR2010Meetings Planning & Dissemination Grant: Reproductive and Child Health

Principal investigators: Polatajko, Helene J

Keywords: Cognitive Orientation To Daily Occupational Performance; Developmental Coordination Disorder

$9,970

Exploring the Efficacy of Combined Task-Specific and Cognitive Strategy Training in Subacute Stroke: A Phase II Clinical Trial.

Principal investigatorCIHR2010Operating Grant

Principal investigators: McEwen, Sara E; Polatajko, Helene J

Keywords: Clinical Trial; Cognitive Strategy Training; Rehabilitation; Subacute Stroke; Task Specific Training

$154,165

Managing the Dysexecutive Syndrome following traumatic brain injury: An ecologically valid rehabilitation approach.

Co-investigatorCIHR2010Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Dawson, Deirdre R

Keywords: Brain Injury; Community Participation; Executive Cognitive Function; Rehabilitation; Self-Regulation

$433,527

Older Adults, Cognitive Impairment, and the CO-OP Therapeutic Approach

Nominated PICIHR2010Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant: Aging

Principal investigators: Polatajko, Helene J

Keywords: Cognitive Impairment; Dementia; Functional Autonomy; Functional Decline; Stroke

$9,517

Life Balance: An International Conference on Lifestyle Patterns and Health

Principal investigatorSSHRC2005Aid to Research Workshops and Conferences in Canada

Principal investigators: Polatajko, Helene J.

Keywords: lifestyle patterns; work-life balance; work-family conflict; quality of life; health; well-being; participation; time use; over-scheduled children; occupational science

$25,000

Occupation, Health, and Well-Being: Exploring the Relationships across the Life Course - The Canadian Occupational Science Conference

Principal investigatorSSHRC2003Aid to Research Workshops and Conferences in Canada

Principal investigators: Polatajko, Helene J.

Keywords: occupational science; work-life balance; occupation; health; well-being; participation; life course

$10,000

Client-centred home based rehabilitation under managed competition: reality or rhetoric

Co-investigatorSSHRC2001Standard Research Grants

Principal investigators: Rappolt, Susan

Keywords: sociology of professions; rehabilitation; occupational therapy; client-centred care; managed competition; managed care; professionalism; client outcomes; professional standards; professional regulation

$87,486

From public funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998 with their latest competition results, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Genome Canada, the Canadian Space Agency, Canada Research Chairs, the Fonds de recherche du Québec, Ontario research funding, Michael Smith Health Research BC, the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart & Stroke and Brain Canada.

Profile data last refreshed on September 29, 2026 from the university directory, publication records and public research funding records.

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Helene Polatajko

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Feasibility of applying the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach in a Danish municipal neurorehabilitation context

Reliability and validity of the performance quality rating scale (PQRS) in individuals with chronic stroke: A psychometric study

Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement

The Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance

The Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance approach in childhood‐onset disabilities

Perspectives on how evidence‐based practice changes over time: A qualitative exploration of occupational therapy and physical therapy graduates

Brain-behavior correlates of rhythmic timing and auditory-motor synchronization in children with developmental coordination disorder: an EEG study.

Engagement in meaningful activities post suicide loss: A scoping review.

Comparing cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance and motivational interviewing in stroke rehabilitation: A protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Understanding the Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance: An Umbrella Review

Improving the role functioning and resiliency of university students experiencing mental health problems using an enhanced supported education intervention

Evolution of evidence-based practice: evaluating the contribution of individual and contextual factors to optimize patient care

Children's Disabilities and Disorders - Taking the CO-OP Approach

Exploring the Efficacy of Combined Task-Specific and Cognitive Strategy Training in Subacute Stroke: A Phase II Clinical Trial.

Managing the Dysexecutive Syndrome following traumatic brain injury: An ecologically valid rehabilitation approach.

Older Adults, Cognitive Impairment, and the CO-OP Therapeutic Approach

Life Balance: An International Conference on Lifestyle Patterns and Health

Occupation, Health, and Well-Being: Exploring the Relationships across the Life Course - The Canadian Occupational Science Conference

Client-centred home based rehabilitation under managed competition: reality or rhetoric

Frequent collaborators

Helene Polatajko-Howell

Jane Davis

Sara McEwen

Cheryl Missiuna

Mary Catherine Law

Jennifer Ryan

Susan Elizabeth Baptiste

Deirdre Dawson

Anne Hunt

Rose Martini

Christie Welch

Susan Rappolt

Angela Colantonio

Lori Letts

Sarbjit Jassal

Sarbijt Jassal

Tom Chau

André Bussières

Annie Rochette

Annie Rochette

Sara Ahmed

Aliki Thomas

Malcolm Binns

Peter Rumney