HSO408 Critical Analysis of Pediatric Occupational Therapy Assessment Answer

Introduction

Occupational therapy (OT) focuses on enhancing the patient's capabilities in performing everyday activities (Arsh et al., 2020). However, occupational therapists do not solely focus on physiological development; instead, they assist the patient in achieving complete emotional, psychological, and cognitive development (Morris & Jenkins, 2018). OT plays a pivotal role in pediatrics by improving the overall growth and inculcating the feeling of self-reliance in performing everyday activities (Morris & Jenkins, 2018). Pediatrics requires adequate nurturing as well as mediums to develop the motor, sensory, cognitive, emotional, and psychological functions to their full potential. Incorporating OT in pediatrics is beneficial in overcoming delayed progress or growth (Clark et al., 2020). 

The scope of practice for occupational therapy is varied and has been deemed beneficial in most aspects. Pediatric OT is essential in attaining enhanced development, not just in terms of physiological functioning rather covers overall health improvement (Reitz & Scaffa, 2020). The pediatrics population has reported a stunted growth rate given the scenarios of unhealthy lifestyles, birth deformities, and chronic psychological or physiological ailments (Andonian et al., 2019). As per reports, the scope of pediatric OT was observed to be approximately 18.7% around 2016 (Sivaraman et al, 2022). However, occupational therapy also entails certain limitations, especially in the case of pediatrics. Treating pediatric patients can prove to be challenging in terms of additional precautions and guidelines to abide. Moreover, emotional involvement and incapability of the children to completely comprehend the factors of OT is also challenging.

Recent advances in the pediatric occupational therapy

The increasing integration of OT in pediatrics promotes enhanced and appropriate development in terms of psychiatric, cognitive, sensory, fine motor skills, emotional, and physiology to assist the child in undertaking everyday activities without relying on others. Many research studies are being carried out in the area of pediatric occupational therapy to recognize various effective and valid interventions in clinical applications. The most common barrier in delivering OT to the pediatric population is the inability to relate or achieve absolute involvement of the children in the therapy activities (Kroon et al., 2019). Studies and interventions are being applied to overcome this barrier and establish efficient pediatric development with occupational therapy. Several interventions can be introduced in the clinical practice of pediatric occupational therapy (Divan et al., 2021). Some of the recognized interventions being applied in the clinical practice of occupational therapy are- Neuro-development Therapy, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Play therapy, Therapeutic Listening, Visual Motor Interventions, Handwriting intervention, assistive devices, and Goals Activity and Motor Enrichment (GAME) (Novak & Honan, 2019).

Certain advancements in the occupational therapy for pediatrics, which can be implemented in the clinical practices as mutually benefitting interventions for pediatrics as well as the occupational therapists are- Adapting Cloud Based therapies along with the electronic health records (EHRs). This advancement allows the occupational therapies to become more accessible to the patients even in the remote areas or for the patients unable to receive physical therapy sessions (van Rjit et al., 2021). Along with these the development of mobile technologies and telehealth system have proven to be positively impactful for the pediatrics as the younger patients are reluctant in attending therapy through the face-to-face medium (Hsing et al., 2020). Apart from these the development of analytical and care coordinating tools in the treatment of pediatrics help in accurate tracking and maintenance of progression records for efficient delivery of care and assist the occupational therapists in forming care strategies for the pediatrics (Sezgin et al., 2020). 

Aspects associated with pediatric occupational therapy

Pediatric occupational therapy has proven imperative and effective for children in various issues ranging from cognitive functions to basic day-to-day tasks. However, there are Political, Environmental, and social aspects that hinder the proper accessibility of Pediatric occupational therapy to the general population (Kempert, 2021).

Political Aspects:

Lack of funding

 Financing, as it is in any organization, is the backbone of establishing a proper occupational therapy practice and an essential factor in ensuring continued and quality functioning. Funding will help the therapist to deliver the right care with adequate resources so that children will receive maximum healthcare benefits. Pertinent steps should ensure that government and private funding is readily available for this practice. The engagement of stakeholders is essential to ensure the correct flow of financial resources. The Government must participate equally to ensure the funds utilization for patient safety.

No centralized monitoring system

The inception of a proper centralized monitoring system is vital in any health care management program, especially regarding children. The appropriate collection and analysis of data concerning pediatric occupational therapy and the wide range of needs the children require will help in taking the necessary steps to improve the situation in the country.

Lack of awareness

 A significant problem prevalent in any health concerning issue is the lack of health literacy. A child may require occupation therapy for birth injuries, congenital disabilities, sensory processing disorders, learning problems, autism/pervasive developmental disorders, behavioral problems, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, and other chronic illnesses. Often these issues are overlooked or only become apparent with age and in a certain culture like Aboriginal. The lack of awareness is restricting the engagement of occupational therapists to deliver care by the target population for holistic physical development.

Environmental Aspects:

Australia’s healthcare funding is shared between federal, state, and territory governments. This poor setup of the funding model and the lack of information shared among the health services and the patients has created a complex and challenging system for providing proper patient care (Dixit & Sambasivan. 2018). Moreover, the people living in remote areas like Indigenous population do not have access to good OT care owing to a lack of transport, financial resources, and individual factors as well (Tynan et al.,2020). The rapid urbanization in Australia has created a lack of access to fresh food and has caused higher rates of obesity and other health-related issues. The lack of nutrients in steadily growing bodies and brains of children can put them at risk of poor brain development and lack of processing speed. Pediatric Occupational Therapy can help develop these skills over time and help children lead regular lives (Cormack et al., 2019). 

Social Aspects: 

Although awareness plays a vital role, the income of the people also factors into a parent's position in providing the necessary care for their children. About 3.24 million people in Australia live below the poverty line. The social status and economic aspect of the individuals influence the quality of care they receive (Victoria & Australia, 2020). The social biases and discrimination influence the opportunities and privileges available to the socially lacking communities and sections of populations. The sense of social rejection is inculcated within the population belonging to the Indigenous communities. The cultural biases, stigmas, and stereotypes instill the feeling of social exclusion, which can lead to decreased emotional development. Pediatric occupational therapy is designed with the aim of helping children develop in all aspects and become self-reliant. Overcoming the feeling of social exclusion is necessary for improving the children's emotional and psychological quotient (Rushanan et al., 2022). 

Cultural influence on pediatric occupational therapy

Indigenous people of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders do not receive the same health care opportunities as the rest of Australia's population does. The younger population of the Island is expected to face a significant increase in health issues in the coming future. A 2001 study showed a 20% unemployment rate for the Indigenous people, which was three times more than that of the non-Indigenous population, resulting in a poor income and increasingly affecting the accessibility of health care services and appropriate food options (Shipstone et al., 2020). Social norms have become a significant factor even in seeking proper health care. The stigma of the people toward the treatment. This is most prevalent in households with a noticeable lack of education. It is essential to consider these factors and conduct proper health and awareness camps. Moreover, the Aboriginal people must come forwards by keeping their cultural barriers aside to seek OT support, thereby supporting their occupation.

The application of occupational therapy among pediatrics helps the healthcare professionals in inculcating cultural awareness and develops an understanding of cultural perspectives as well. To properly develop cultural sensitivity and awareness, it is essential to analyze the cultural influences on the pediatric occupational therapy practice in Australia. There are a number of communities in Australia which exist with varying cultural beliefs and practices. The Indigenous communities, which are prominently considered in the pediatric OT practices include Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders (Fraser et al., 2020). The Islanders being the stereotypical and social biases have caused a significant impact leading to stunted growth among the pediatrics in these communities. 

Apart from the Indigenous communities, Australia also homes several multi-cultural, multi-lingual communities and refugees. The history of discrimination, along with the lack of resources and opportunities for these communities, has been the cause of several negative impacts, including stunted growth in pediatrics. Handling the pediatric patients from these communities helps the children in overcoming psychological barriers. The prominent cultural influences that impact the occupational therapy of pediatrics can be identified as:

Lack of resources and literacy

The Indigenous communities, refugees, and multi-cultural or multi-lingual communities are deprived of standard resources and opportunities. The lack of opportunities and resources cause deteriorated growth among the young population of the communities. This heightens the responsibility of the occupational therapists as they need to assist pediatric patients from a multi-cultural backdrop in overcoming their psychological reluctance to feel secure and equal in society (Alemzero et al., 2021).

Loss of cultural beliefs 

With the urge to achieve social acceptance, the communities have started to lose their cultural beliefs and adapted to a behavior influenced by their cultural norms. Integration of pediatric occupational therapy with a culturally inclusive policy would encourage the younger population to embrace their cultural beliefs and practices to achieve significant societal growth. Motivation and awareness can be provided to the children with the aim of making them capable of leading a healthy and progressive life as independent individuals (Bateman et al., 2022).

The cultural aspects of Indigenous communities can be identified with the aim of developing such occupational therapy practice, which is inclusive and sensitive to all individuals irrespective of their ethnicity and culture. Creating a mutually respective and diverse pediatric occupational therapy practice ensures that the younger population develops a feeling of respect towards all cultures. Overcoming the negative impact of cultural norms enhances the quality of development among pediatric patients. Identifying the cultural aspects influencing pediatric occupational therapy helps in the recognition of areas of concern and overcoming the barriers to effective development in children due to cultural norms (Weisenmuller & Hilton, 2021).

Role of a graduate therapist in pediatric occupational therapy

Graduate therapists can significantly influence the efficiency of occupational therapy administered to pediatrics. The graduate therapists can contribute in several ways, which would ensure enhancement of the development among the pediatrics in care. The role of a therapist in occupational therapy is to ensure that the children are responding positively to the therapy and show efficient enhancement in their overall development (Cahill & Beisbier, 2020). The contribution of graduate occupational therapists can be in the form of- assistance in assessment procedures, monitoring the rate of development and pathological aspects, help in the restoration and rehabilitation of functional abilities, promote educational aspects, awareness, and significance of occupational therapy for pediatrics, assist in the planning and promotion of pediatric occupational therapy, staying up to date with the advancements and recent research in occupational therapy, identifying and incorporating effective, valid, and reliable interventions in the clinical aspects of pediatric occupational therapy, and identify their strengths and weaknesses and work on the skills for future clinical practices.

The contribution of a graduate therapist might be limited within the clinical setting. However, the involvement of graduate therapists in the clinical practice provides an opportunity of reflecting and self-analyzing their capabilities as a therapist in future clinical implications. Being familiar with the barriers of pediatric occupational therapy would allow the graduate therapist to identify and work on the weaknesses to enhance his clinical practice (Perez, 2020). Apart from this, contributing to the field of practice would also help the graduate therapist to stay updated with the advancements in the field of practice to gain the required skills and knowledge.

References

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