Developmental surveillance: a prospective observational study on integrating occupational therapy

Area of Science:

• Pediatric primary care
• Occupational therapy
• Developmental surveillance

Background:

• Developmental surveillance is crucial for early identification of health issues in children.
• Primary care teams conduct developmental surveillance during well-child visits.
• Understanding interprofessional contributions is key to optimizing care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the role of occupational therapy in pediatric primary care.
• To identify opportunities for occupational therapy to support developmental surveillance.
• To enhance health promotion and prevention through interprofessional collaboration.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study design was employed.
• Data were collected during 27 well-child visits.
• Developmental surveillance was analyzed from an occupational therapy perspective.

Main Results:

• Developmental surveillance generally covered areas of occupational and developmental participation.
• No significant differences were observed in visits conducted by physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners.
• Discussion of habits, routines, roles, rituals, and environmental contexts impacting participation was limited.

Conclusions:

• Occupational therapy practitioners can contribute significantly to developmental surveillance.
• Emphasis on occupational therapy's expertise in habits, routines, and context can improve participation and development.
• Integrating occupational therapy can optimize health promotion and prevention in pediatric primary care.