Profile of paediatric occupational therapy practice in Australia

Abstract

Background:The purpose of the present study was to describe a profile of Australian paediatric occupational therapy practice in terms of theories, assessments and interventions used with the most frequently seen client groups. Methods: An ex post facto survey design was utilised. A purpose-designed survey was mailed to 600 occupational therapists identified by OT Australia as working in paediatrics. Results: The response rate was 55% (n = 330). Respondents in the sample worked chiefly with children with developmental delays, learning disabilities, neurological impairments, and infants/toddlers. Theoretical models used by paediatric clinicians that were common to the most frequently seen client groups focused on sensory integration/multisensory approaches, occupational performance, and client-centred practice. Assessment tools most frequently used were the Test of Visual Motor Integration, Sensory Profile, BruininksOseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Handwriting Speed Test, and Motor-Free Visual Perception Test. The most often used treatment methods across the four most frequently seen client groups were parent/caregiver education, sensory integration/stimulation techniques, and managing activities of daily living. Conclusions: Paediatric occupational therapists appeared to draw on a range of theoretical models. With the exception of the Sensory Profile, the assessment and treatment methods most frequently used are not congruent with the most commonly used theoretical models. It is critical that the assessment and treatment methods used are conceptually consistent with the theoretical models that guide practice. Occupational therapists need to examine the evidence and determine whether their clinical practice is grounded in the best contemporary theoretical models, assessments and interventions.

Occupational therapy practice in Australia with people with dementia: A profile in need of change

“…Development of the questionnaire was partially guided by previous surveys of practice patterns of occupational therapists with different patient populations (Koh, Hoffmann, Bennett & McKenna, 2009;McEneany, McKenna & Summerville, 2002;Rodger, Brown & Brown, 2005). Questions in section 1 used mainly fixed response category options asking about practice setting, caseload and length of time they had previously worked in dementia care.…”

Delivering Evidence-Based Upper Limb Rehabilitation for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Barriers and Enablers Identified by Three Pediatric Teams

“…Surveys of pediatric therapists conducted in 2005 and 2008 indicated that NDT was commonly used in routine clinical practice (Rodger et al, 2005;Saleh et al, 2008). A more recent exploration of therapy management of upper limb dysfunction in children with CP highlighted approximately 90% of occupational therapists in the United Kingdom used NDT, 90% task practice, and 28% CIMT (McConnell et al, 2012).…”

Comparing a Parent-Report and a Performance-Based Measure of Children's Motor Skill Abilities: Are They Associated?

“…Performance-based tests are the most common type of pediatric motor skill assessment (Brown et al, 2007;Kramer et al, 2009;Rodger et al, 2005) and often follow a bottom-up approach, impairment focused assessment (Kennedy et al, 2013). Parent-report instruments of motor skill performance typically adopt a questionnaire-based format with items requiring Likert scale responses (Kennedy et al, 2013).…”