Clinical interpretation of "education and training of occupational therapists for neonatal intensive care units"

Expert opinions on knowledge-translation interventions for occupational therapists working with neonates in South Africa: A Delphi study

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Rehabilitation of Infant Oral Feeding Difficulties: A Survey of Occupational Therapists Practice Approaches

This study identifies the scope of occupational therapy practice for the rehabilitation of oral feeding difficulties in infants who are in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A written survey was administered to 127 occupational therapists who work with infants in the NICU. All 68 (54%) respondents used a client-centered approach, taking into consideration the infant (intrinsic), caregiver, and environmental (extrinsic) factors. Family and health team education was the most commonly provided service with the majority of occupational therapists providing services only until feeding problems were resolved. Continuing education (n = 20, 30%) and own clinical experience (n = 22, 33%) were the two most common justifications to support their choice of practice. These results suggest a client-centered approach in the rehabilitation of oral feeding difficulties is commonly used, but services are not extended beyond hospitalization. Few occupational therapists used peer-reviewed journals as sources of evidence for their practice strategies.

Understanding Parenting Occupations in Neonatal Intensive Care: Application of the Person-Environment-Occupation Model

The adoption of family-centred care principles within neonatal intensive care, including support for the development of the parental role, has been increasing in profile over the past decade. During this period, occupational therapy has also had an emerging role in the provision of services within neonatal intensive care. However, there has been limited exploration of the concept of parenting as an occupation as a means of supporting parental role development within the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In accordance with the philosophy of family-centred care, opportunities exist to determine how the occupational efforts of parents and preterm infants can best be supported.

This paper provides a review of the current literature and its application to the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) Model as a framework for illuminating the acquisition of parenting occupations in the NICU. Illustration is provided of how the application of the PEO Model can be used to direct occupational therapy practice to incorporate a focus on family-centred care and the development of an occupation-based approach through which practice can be enhanced, ensuring that both the infant's and the family's needs are recognised and addressed.