Project Description
Approximately one in four occupational therapists in the United States practice in schools (AOTA, 2010). Although working in schools is among the profession’s main practice areas, many occupational therapists report that their formal education did not effectively prepare them for practice in a school-based setting (Brandenburger-Shasby, 2005; Burtner, McMain, & Crowe, 2002; Nielsen & Hektner, 2014).
This project consisted of two parts: 1) developing an educational resource website and 2) conducting survey research. This study aimed to explore students’/occupational therapy practitioners’ perceptions regarding their readiness for fieldwork or a career in school-based practice before and after using the created educational website. The developed web-based resource contained educational material pertaining to school-based practice.
The goals of this doctoral capstone project were to increase my knowledge and skills pertaining to school-based occupational therapy and gain further insight into students’/occupational therapy practitioners’ perceptions regarding their readiness for fieldwork or a career in a school-based setting.
Topic Area
Education | Research Skills
Area of Practice
Evidence-Based Practice & Research
Capstone Site
Huntington University | Peoria, Arizona
Needs Assessment
Literature Review
Mission & Vision
Project Outcomes
IRB
CEUs
Website
The purpose of developing an educational website was to provide students and practitioners with a collection of accessible online resources with a one-stop shop opportunity to learn or refresh knowledge about school-based practice. The website content is divided into six sections:
(1) general information (e.g., laws/legislations, IEPs, occupational therapy scope of practice, response to intervention)
(2) review material (e.g., occupational therapy process, sensory processing, grasp patterns, goal writing)
(3) common assessments used in school-based setting
(4) pediatric interventions (e.g., evidence-based, mental health, adaptive equipment)
(5) transition services
(6) additional resources (e.g., links to additional practice resources)
Research
A) Pre-survey to explore the existing gaps/barriers that inhibit OT students or practitioners from feeling clinically competent for school-based practice & investigate participants' perception of readiness for fieldwork or employment in a school-based setting.
B) Post-survey to investigate participants' self-reported rating regarding their knowledge of school-based topics after using the educational resource website & explore their perception of website usage as a supplemental educational resource.
Professional Research Paper
Future Directions
As I gain clinical expertise in the setting of school-based occupational therapy, I aim to continue building on the website. I plan to continue improving this tool so that it will be an accessible and sustainable educational resource that has the potential to increase occupational therapy students’ perception of readiness for school-based fieldwork and/or employment as well as give therapists transitioning from another practice setting an educational refresher.
Contact Information
csoliman.soliman@gmail.com
References
AOTA. (2010). AOTA Occupational therapy compensation and workforce study. https://www.aota.org/media/corporate/files/educationcareers/prospective/workforcetrends-in-ot.pdf
Brandenburger-Shasby, S. (2005). School-based practice: Acquiring the knowledge and skills. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 59(1), 88-96. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.59.1.88
Burtner, P. A., McMain, M. P., & Crowe, T. K. (2002). Survey of occupational therapy practitioners in southwestern schools: Assessments used and preparation of students for school-based practice. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 22(1), 25–39.
Nielsen, S. K., & Hektner, J. M. (2014). Understanding the psychosocial knowledge and attitudes of school-based occupational therapists. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools & Early Intervention, 7(2), 136-150.https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2014.930615