Trauma-informed or sensory-based practices in preschool settings: A scoping review.
Rebecca Hockey, Kelsey Philpott-Robinson, Kirsti Haracz and 1 others
PMID 40405407WHAT IT FOUND
Only 18 studies exist on trauma-informed or sensory-based practices in preschools.
Most involved educators rather than therapists, and few measured child outcomes. This maps a gap in evidence for occupational therapy interventions rather than confirming what works.
Key findings
01Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria, with 11 examining trauma-informed practices, six sensory-based practices, and one combining both.
02Occupational therapists were rarely involved in the interventions described, appearing in three studies, compared to educators who were involved in many more.
03The review found a lack of evidence for the effectiveness of these practices, noting that most studies focused on short-term outcomes with infrequent follow-up.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Included studies were not assessed for quality or risk of bias, so the strength of evidence in the primary studies is unknown. The search was restricted to English-language publications, potentially missing relevant research from other regions. Most included studies were from the United States, which may limit applicability to other educational systems. Follow-up data was rarely collected, so long-term effects of the practices are unknown.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the inclusion of 18 studies as evidence that these practices are effective. The review explicitly states there is a lack of evidence for effectiveness, and it maps what has been studied rather than confirming what works.