Occupational therapy experiences of interprofessional collaboration in the support of autistic children.
Greta Ryan, Valerie Watchorn, Sherryn Evans
PMID 39022892WHAT IT FOUND
Australian OTs found collaboration with other professionals is hindered by NDIS funding limits and school access barriers.
Success relied on established relationships, shared views on autism, and clear leadership roles, often falling to parents when coordinators were absent.
Key findings
01Limited or unavailable specific funds for collaboration in the NDIS meant collaborative practice was greater for children with complex needs who had larger funding plans.
02Schools increasingly restricted access to external professionals, creating a significant barrier to communicating and collaborating with educational staff.
03When NDIS support coordinators were not funded, the burden of linking the care team and leading collaboration often fell to the carer, causing them stress.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (13 participants) and geographically concentrated in Victoria, limiting generalisability to other Australian states or regions. Recruitment flyers explicitly mentioned 'interprofessional collaboration', which likely attracted therapists who already value and engage in this practice, potentially excluding those who do not. The study did not collect data on participants' specific training in interprofessional education, so the influence of their educational background on their perceptions could not be assessed.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that interprofessional collaboration improves patient outcomes. This study reports therapists' perceptions of barriers and facilitators; it did not measure clinical outcomes for the autistic children.