A mixed methods evaluation of the acceptability of therapy using LEGO® bricks (LEGO® based therapy) in mainstream primary and secondary education.
Amy Barr, Elizabeth Coates, Ellen Kingsley and 4 others
PMID 35396821WHAT IT FOUND
Facilitators and parents rated LEGO-based therapy as highly acceptable, with facilitators rating it significantly higher than parents.
Both groups saw benefits during sessions, but noted that these skills did not consistently transfer to the classroom or home environment.
Key findings
01Facilitators rated the overall acceptability of the programme significantly higher than parents did.
02Facilitators reported perceived improvements in children's communication and social skills during sessions, but noted these skills were not always translated to the classroom setting.
03Many parents reported seeing improvements in their children's behaviour and confidence, although some noted these changes were not observed at home.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Data were not collected directly from the children and young people who participated, so their own views on acceptability are inferred from adults. The study was conducted only in mainstream schools, so findings may not apply to special educational needs settings. Interview participants were self-selected, and it is possible that only facilitators who found the programme acceptable chose to take part in the qualitative interviews. There was a low number of secondary school facilitators interviewed, limiting the understanding of acceptability in that specific setting.
Declared interests
One co-author (Gina Gomez de la Cuesta) co-authored the LEGO-based therapy manual used in the trial and is a director of a company that offers training and resources for play brick interventions. The study was funded by the Public Health Research Programme.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret high acceptability ratings as evidence of clinical effectiveness. This study reports on how much the programme was liked and deemed appropriate by adults, not on whether it objectively improved social outcomes compared to a control group.