Evidence-Based Sensory Interventions: Perceptions,Knowledge,and Practices of Occupational Therapy Practitioners

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore occupational therapy practitioners’ perceptions of sensory-based equipment for children with sensory processing difficulties and to ascertain whether practitioners were using the literature to guide their practice. As occupational therapy moves forward in health care, there are increasing demands for occupational therapy services based on sound evidence. Because of the evolving health care climate and expectations, occupational therapy practitioners’ awareness of evidence-based practice and application of the evidence in clinical practice are relevant to add value to the occupational therapy profession. This exploratory study examined how occupational therapy practitioners reflected on their practices, their knowledge of evidence-based interventions, their perceptions and practice regarding the use of sensory equipment, and their use of the literature in practice.

METHOD: A total of 721 respondents from all regions of the United States who worked with children experiencing sensory processing difficulties participated in an anonymous online survey (SurveyMonkey, San Mateo, CA). The survey consisted of highly structured, closed- and open-ended questions using a five-point Likert scale to rate level of agreement for each question. The survey asked participants to reflect on their practices, whether they were using the most effective interventions, what they thought about using sensory-based equipment for children with sensory processing difficulties, and their use of the literature to guide practice. A list of research-based articles was used to explore whether participants based their interventions on the literature.

For the quantitative measures, the closed-ended section of the questionnaire was analyzed to determine frequencies of responses and overall trends within the data. Responses to the open-ended questions were used to triangulate and further illustrate the information gathered from the closed-ended questions. A descriptive analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data was conducted to reveal the study outcomes.

RESULTS: Of the survey respondents, 30% continued to engage in intervention practices unsupported by evidence from the literature, 30%–60% did not read the literature, and 60%–75% had not attended any professional development training on sensory-based interventions within the past 5 yr. These findings suggest that many of the occupational therapy practitioners continued to use primarily clinical experiences and knowledge from their professional education programs rather than formal evaluations or scientific literature.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study contribute to the current body of knowledge and professional practices of occupational therapy practitioners working with children with sensory processing difficulties. The study provides information on a disparity that exists in the professional knowledge base for clinical reasoning and evidence that can be used to promote meaningful advances in practitioners’ sensory-based training, knowledge, and practice. It is essential for a paradigm shift in which occupational therapy practitioners widely use research evidence to enhance the quality of services. The key recommendation based on this research is that future research broaden the scope of investigation by conducting a similar study to gather information and compare current trends to inform professional practice that will validate occupational therapy as a profession.

References

Barton, E. E., Reichow, B., Schnitz, A., Smith, I. C., & Sherlock, D. (2015). A systematic review of sensory-based treatments for children with disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 37, 64–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2014.11.006

Case-Smith, J., Weaver, L. L., & Fristad, M. A. (2014). A systematic review of sensory processing interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 19, 133–148. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361313517762

Dysart, A. M., & Tomlin, G. S. (2002). Factors related to evidence-based practice among U.S. occupational therapy clinicians. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56, 275–284. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.56.3.275

Thomas, A., & Law, M. (2013). Research utilization and evidence-based practice in occupational therapy: A scoping study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67, e55–e65. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2013.006395