Occupational Therapy Practice in Mainstream Schools: Results from an Online Survey in Switzerland.
Vera C Kaelin, Sylvie Ray-Kaeser, Stefania Moioli and 4 others
PMID 31213964WHAT IT FOUND
97% of Swiss pediatric occupational therapists collaborated with schools, but only 48% provided direct mainstream school services.
Those services were mostly paid by health or disability insurance, relied on nonstandardized evaluation, and focused on school environment.
Key findings
0197% of surveyed occupational therapists reported collaborating with at least one school.
0248% of the 302 analysed occupational therapists reported providing direct occupational therapy service in a mainstream school at least once in the past year.
03Among occupational therapists providing direct mainstream school services, 53% reported their main intervention focus was the school environment, and 9% reported using standardized assessments.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
There is no official register of Swiss pediatric occupational therapists, and the survey was forwarded among colleagues, so the response rate is approximate. The sample was mostly female (92%) and self-employed (66%), and most worked in private practice, so it may not represent all Swiss pediatric occupational therapists. Some participants did not answer every question, so counts vary by question. Direct-service results come from 145 of 302 analysed therapists, not the whole sample. The survey asked therapists to report their own practice, not child or class outcomes. Some questions allowed multiple answers, so percentages are not mutually exclusive.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read 97% collaboration or 48% direct school service as evidence that occupational therapy improves student participation. This survey reported therapists' activities, not child outcomes, and the 48% is 145 of 302 analysed respondents, not all Swiss occupational therapists.