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Assessing functioning for individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions: Current clinical practice in Australia
Emily D'Arcy1,2,3,4, Kiah Evans2,3,5, Bahareh Afsharnejad1,4
1School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Australian Occupational Therapy Journal
|August 7, 2022
Summary
Functioning assessments are vital for disability support in Australia, yet current practices for neurodevelopmental conditions lack a clear conceptualization. Barriers include time, caseloads, and tool availability, hindering best practice.
Area of Science:
- Disability Studies
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Functioning assessments are crucial for diagnosis, therapy, and funding in the Australian disability sector.
- Over 50% of individuals in Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme have neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Understanding current functioning assessment practices for this population is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate current functioning assessment practices within the Australian disability sector.
- To identify barriers and facilitators influencing clinicians' adoption of best practices in functioning assessments.
- To explore clinicians' perspectives on functioning assessment concepts and methods.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods online survey was administered to clinicians (n=93) across various health professions.
- Descriptive analysis was used for quantitative data, with comparisons between professions where feasible.
- Qualitative comments were analyzed using content analysis to explore themes in depth.
Main Results:
- Clinicians reported assessing functioning across diverse demographics, settings, and diagnoses.
- A significant gap exists in the current practice regarding a clear transdisciplinary conceptualization of functioning.
- Key barriers to best practice included time constraints, large caseloads, lack of suitable assessment tools, and unclear funding body guidelines.
Conclusions:
- Current functioning assessment practices for individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions in Australia lack a unified conceptual framework.
- Addressing barriers such as time, resources, and clearer guidelines is essential for improving assessment quality.
- Enhanced functioning assessment practices are needed to ensure adequate support for individuals with disabilities.
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