Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026
Virtual Prism Adaptation Therapy: Protocol for Validation in Healthy Adults
Published on: February 12, 2020
Understanding Occupational Therapists' Knowledge and Confidence When Assessing for Spatial Neglect: A Special Issue
Holden Gasque1, Corey Morrow2, Emily Grattan3
1Holden Gasque, OTD, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist II, Rehabilitation Department, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston; holden.gasque@gmail.com.
Importance:
Spatial neglect (SN)-failure to respond to stimuli on the side of the body contralateral to a poststroke lesion-is one of the most disabling impairments for stroke survivors, and 80% of stroke survivors may have undetected SN. Occupational therapists' evaluations should include determining the impact of poststroke SN.
Objective:
To investigate occupational therapists' confidence, knowledge, current practices, barriers, and facilitators when assessing for SN in adult stroke survivors.
Design:
A 30-item survey was created with guidance from stroke rehabilitation occupational therapists who reviewed the survey for face and content validity.
Setting:
Online survey.
Participants:
Occupational therapist survey responders (N = 76).
Outcomes And Measures:
Self-report assessments were used to measure occupational therapists' confidence in identifying SN, SN assessment practices, and barriers to and facilitators of SN assessment. Knowledge of SN signs and symptoms, neuroanatomy, and clinical presentation were measured with a three-question quiz.
Results:
Eighty-one percent of the respondents reported a high level of confidence in identifying SN, and 70% reported routinely assessing for SN, with 81% using clinical observation rather than standardized tools as the primary assessment method. Barriers to SN assessment included time and resources.
Conclusions And Relevance:
Most respondents, despite reporting high levels of confidence with routine SN assessments, did not use standardized SN measures and demonstrated suboptimal knowledge of SN. These results emphasize the need to increase clinical education about SN and its assessments. Plain-Language Summary: This study gathered baseline information on an underinvestigated topic-occupational therapists' education, confidence, current practices, barriers, and facilitators when assessing for spatial neglect in adult stroke survivors. The study results also contribute to future research on occupational therapists' current confidence and knowledge when assessing for spatial neglect.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
01:22The Professional Nurse
Communication skills: These are critical characteristics, especially speaking and listening.
01:30Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
01:24Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
01:25Elements Crucial for Effective Psychotherapy
The Therapeutic Alliance
The therapeutic alliance refers to the relationship between the therapist and the client. The alliance strengthens when the therapist and the client engage in a nurturing, supportive, trusting, empathetic, and respectful relationship, improving therapeutic outcomes. Therapists must monitor this relationship...
01:27Halo Effect