Parents' hopes for their children's outcomes from occupational therapy using a sensory integration approach

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University, 2012.PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you.Objective. This study examined parents' concerns, expectations, and hopes for their children who would be receiving occupational therapy based on a sensory integration perspective at a pediatric outpatient clinic. Method. Two hundred and seventy five parental responses to three open-ended questions on developmental/sensory history intake forms at a pediatric outpatient clinic were analyzed using content and comparative analysis. Findings. Parents described the challenges their children faced on a daily basis. Children had difficulty self-regulating their behavior and coping with frustration, interacting with peers and making and sustaining friendships, successfully participating in tine and gross motor activities, and developing feelings of self-confidence. These primary concerns presented in different combinations as they pertained to the children's participation in daily life. To address these concerns, parents identified hopes that their children would develop frustration tolerance and coping mechanisms for perceived challenges, socially appropriate mechanisms for controlling impulses, and self-understanding in order to participate in daily life. Conclusion. The findings of this study indicate the importance of eliciting parents' concerns and hopes regarding their child's occupational therapy intervention. Understanding parents' perspectives can help therapists formulate collaborative goals to address the outcomes that are important to the parents. Further research is needed to determine if occupational therapy using a sensory interrogation approach addresses self-regulation as it pertains to the child's social participation and self-understanding. There is also a need to assess the outcomes of occupational therapy interventions for children with difficulty processing and integrating sensory information and the congruence of these outcomes with parents' hopes for therapy outcomes.2031-01-0