Bendixen and Kreider (2011)
Dr Carolyn Dunford shares her thoughts on the review
of occupational therapy research in the practice area of children
and youth by Roxanna Bendixen and Consuelo Kreider
Bendixen and Kreider (2011) reviewed
occupational therapy research relevant to children and youth
published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy
during 2009-2010. They examined the extent to which the research
reflected the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
Centennial Vision (AOTA, 2007) using the frameworks of the
International Classification of Functioning Disability and
Health-Children and Youth (ICF) (World Health Organisation, 2007)
and Positive Youth Development (PYD) which aims to facilitate
achievement of development tasks and milestones. Forty-six articles
were examined with the majority investigating the ICF constructs of
body functions and activity and the PYD area of improving
competence. The authors found that many studies based on body
functions and activities left the reader to presume that these new
found skills resulted in increased participation in real life
situations for the children and young people. They exhort
occupational therapists to “push beyond the development of
competence and activity performance toward participation.” This
sends a strong message to all researchers to consider how we
measure outcomes that represent our fundamental philosophy and
belief around the importance of occupation. This will enable
us to demonstrate the power of occupational therapy to enable
children and young people with disabilities to live full and
meaningful lives.
Dr Carolyn Dunford, Head of Research, The
Children's Trust, Tadworth, Surrey, UK.
References
American Occupational Therapy Association
(2007) AOTA’s Centennial Vision and executive summary.
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61,
613-614
Bendixen, R.M., Kreider C.M. (2011) Review of
occupational therapy research in the practice area of children and
youth. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65,
352-359. Doi:10.5014/ajot.2011.000976.
World Health Organisation (2007) International Classification of
Functioning Health and Disability – Children and Youth. World
Health Organisation; Geneva http://apps.who.int/classifications/icfbrowser/Default.aspx