Jeremy J, Spandagou I, Hinitt J. Teacher-therapist collaboration in inclusive primary schools: A scoping review.
Aust Occup Ther J 2024. [PMID:
38320985 DOI:
10.1111/1440-1630.12931]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Inclusive school environments require collaboration between teachers and allied health professionals to promote student access and participation. Collaboration is a complex phenomenon with no universally accepted definition or measurement and with many challenges to effective practice. The purpose of this scoping review is to describe what is known about interprofessional collaboration between teachers and therapists in inclusive primary schools.
METHODS
A scoping review of health and education literature was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Peer-reviewed articles reporting on empirical studies with a focus on collaboration between teachers and school-based occupational therapists or speech and language therapists in inclusive primary schools were included.
RESULTS
Results summarise how collaboration is reported in the literature. Numerical and descriptive summaries describe how collaboration is defined and measured, the challenges to collaborative practice, the structures required to support effective practice, and the outcomes of such practice.
CONCLUSION
Definitions vary between studies and disciplines but contain common elements. For effective practice, the purpose of the collaboration must be clear, and the intended outcomes of the collaboration are measured. Measurement of collaboration requires further research using tools developed from robust theoretical frameworks and validated within the educational context and with professionals of different disciplines. Consistent measurement tools would allow cross-study comparisons. Barriers to collaborative practice are well documented; thus, future research should be directed to examining effective practice, investigating how professionals circumvent obstacles.
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