Search

This is the second article of a study of the paediatric content of undergraduate and entry-level postgraduate occupational therapy university programmes in South Africa. Current best practices in paediatric occupational therapy were examined through a literature review, which is presented in part one. This second article reports the results of the survey that examined the paediatric theoretical models, assessment tools and interventions taught by the eight universities in South Africa that offer occupational therapy programmes. Six faculties responded to the electronic survey, yielding a response rate of 75%. On average, paediatrics constituted 21.5% of the total South African occupational therapy curricula. The most commonly taught theoretical models were Erikson's Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development, neurodevelopmental therapy and the Model of Human Occupation. There was a deficit in curricular programming with regard to perceptual motor theory. The Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration, Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test and the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills (non-motor) were among the most widely taught assessments. All six university programmes incorporated health promotion and disease prevention into their syllabuses. Therefore, occupational therapy students in South Africa receive a broad and varied education with regard to paediatrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paediatric content of the eight undergraduate and entry-level postgraduate occupational therapy programmes in South Africa was examined through a survey of the faculties. In the first of a two-part article documenting the study current best practices in paediatric occupational therapy are reviewed by means of a literature review Part two will identify and discuss the current status of the paediatric content of occupational therapy education programmes in South Africa, including theoretical frameworks, assessments and intervention strategies. The literature suggests that there is a degree of commonality in paediatric occupational therapy practice between Canada, the US, the UK and Australia in terms of theoretical frameworks, assessment tools and intervention strategies used. Teaching staff must not only include current best practices based on sound research evidence in paediatrics in curricula, but teach in the context of the diverse client diagnostic groups that students will encounter upon graduation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]