Challenges and Facilitators to Telehealth Occupational Therapy for Autistic Children During COVID-19 - PubMed (original) (raw)

Challenges and Facilitators to Telehealth Occupational Therapy for Autistic Children During COVID-19

Amber M Angell et al. OTJR (Thorofare N J). 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Pre-pandemic, telehealth occupational therapy (OT) for autistic children appeared promising, but research was limited. The pandemic provided a unique opportunity to investigate how clinics transitioned to telehealth. The purpose of this study was to examine barriers and facilitators that influenced delivery of OT services through telehealth for autistic children during the pandemic. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 13 participants (three administrators, six OTs, and four parents of autistic children) at three Los Angeles area clinics over a 7-month period. We used narrative and thematic analysis to identify four themes. We identified (a) Challenges and (b) Facilitators to Conducting Telehealth OT, including practical strategies for successful facilitation, and (c) Negative and (d) Positive Outcomes of Conducting Telehealth OT. As telehealth will likely remain a viable means of OT service delivery in the future, our findings provide insight into ways that it can be improved and sustained.

Keywords: autism; occupational therapy; pediatrics; qualitative research; services.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Study Findings: Overarching Themes and Subthemes. Note. OT = occupational therapy.

References

    1. Abbott-Gaffney C. R., Gafni-Lachter L., Cason J., Sheaffer K., Harasink R., Donehower K., Jacobs K. (2022). Toward successful future use of telehealth in occupational therapy practice: What the COVID-19 rapid shift revealed. Work, 71(2), 385–394. 10.3233/WOR-210789 -DOI -PubMed
    1. Ashburner J., Vickerstaff S., Beetge J., Copley J. (2016). Remote versus face-to-face delivery of early intervention programs for children with autism spectrum disorders: Perceptions of rural families and service providers. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 23, 1–14. 10.1016/j.rasd.2015.11.011 -DOI
    1. Ayres A. J. (1972). Sensory integration and learning disorders. Western Psychological Services.
    1. Beight L. J., Helton G., Avery M., Dussel V., Wolfe J. (2022). Parent and adolescent perspectives on the impact of COVID on the care of seriously ill children. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 63(1), 52–60. 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.07.017 -DOI -PMC -PubMed
    1. Braun V., Clarke V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa -DOI

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources