Play and play occupation: a survey of paediatric occupational therapy practice in Ireland
Purpose - Play occupation has been identified as an essential part of children’s lives, and it subsequently features in paediatric occupational therapy. However, few studies address the current place of play and play occupation in occupational therapy practice. This study aims to address this gap in...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Emerald Publishing
2017-04-01
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| Series: | Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/IJOT-08-2017-0022 |
| _version_ | 1819129524716044288 |
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| author | Alice Moore Helen Lynch |
| author_facet | Alice Moore Helen Lynch |
| author_sort | Alice Moore |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose - Play occupation has been identified as an essential part of children’s lives, and it subsequently features in paediatric occupational therapy. However, few studies address the current place of play and play occupation in occupational therapy practice. This study aims to address this gap in knowledge by exploring paediatric occupational therapists’ perspectives on the place of play and play occupation in occupational therapy practice in Ireland. Design/methodology/approach - A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to gather data about the current use of play in the occupational therapy for children under 12 years. Convenience sampling and snowball recruitment techniques were used to recruit paediatric occupational therapists. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. Findings - In total, 65 therapists responded to the survey (estimated response rate, 32%). Results are organised into four sections: demographics and practice context, play assessment practices, use of play in practice and perceived barriers to play-centred practice. Respondents reported that they valued play as a childhood occupation. However, the survey findings identified that the primary focus was on play as a means to an end. Lack of education on play (research, theory and interventions) and pressures in the workplace have been identified as barriers to play-centred practice. Research limitations/implications - Findings indicate that there is a mismatch between therapists valuing play as an occupation and how play is used in occupational therapy practice. Unless clarifications are made about play occupation as being different to skills acquisition in childhood, play occupation will continue to get overlooked as an authentic concern of occupation-centred practice. Thus, play as occupation deserves further attention from educators, researchers and practitioners as a means of strengthening occupation-centred practice, in particular play-centred practice in the paediatric context. Originality/value - Play has been described as an important occupation in childhood, and consequently, it features in paediatric occupational therapy. However, little is known about the current place of play in occupational therapy practice. This study addresses this gap by considering the current place of play in occupational therapy practice in Ireland. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:45:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2b2bc1d51caf4aa6af5189c9c67d442a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0791-8437 2398-8819 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:45:05Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | Emerald Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-2b2bc1d51caf4aa6af5189c9c67d442a2022-12-21T18:32:08ZengEmerald PublishingIrish Journal of Occupational Therapy0791-84372398-88192017-04-01461597210.1108/IJOT-08-2017-0022606581Play and play occupation: a survey of paediatric occupational therapy practice in IrelandAlice Moore0Helen Lynch1Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandDepartment of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University College Cork, Cork, IrelandPurpose - Play occupation has been identified as an essential part of children’s lives, and it subsequently features in paediatric occupational therapy. However, few studies address the current place of play and play occupation in occupational therapy practice. This study aims to address this gap in knowledge by exploring paediatric occupational therapists’ perspectives on the place of play and play occupation in occupational therapy practice in Ireland. Design/methodology/approach - A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to gather data about the current use of play in the occupational therapy for children under 12 years. Convenience sampling and snowball recruitment techniques were used to recruit paediatric occupational therapists. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. Findings - In total, 65 therapists responded to the survey (estimated response rate, 32%). Results are organised into four sections: demographics and practice context, play assessment practices, use of play in practice and perceived barriers to play-centred practice. Respondents reported that they valued play as a childhood occupation. However, the survey findings identified that the primary focus was on play as a means to an end. Lack of education on play (research, theory and interventions) and pressures in the workplace have been identified as barriers to play-centred practice. Research limitations/implications - Findings indicate that there is a mismatch between therapists valuing play as an occupation and how play is used in occupational therapy practice. Unless clarifications are made about play occupation as being different to skills acquisition in childhood, play occupation will continue to get overlooked as an authentic concern of occupation-centred practice. Thus, play as occupation deserves further attention from educators, researchers and practitioners as a means of strengthening occupation-centred practice, in particular play-centred practice in the paediatric context. Originality/value - Play has been described as an important occupation in childhood, and consequently, it features in paediatric occupational therapy. However, little is known about the current place of play in occupational therapy practice. This study addresses this gap by considering the current place of play in occupational therapy practice in Ireland.https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/IJOT-08-2017-0022QuantitativePlay occupationChildren’s occupational therapy |
| spellingShingle | Alice Moore Helen Lynch Play and play occupation: a survey of paediatric occupational therapy practice in Ireland Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy Quantitative Play occupation Children’s occupational therapy |
| title | Play and play occupation: a survey of paediatric occupational therapy practice in Ireland |
| title_full | Play and play occupation: a survey of paediatric occupational therapy practice in Ireland |
| title_fullStr | Play and play occupation: a survey of paediatric occupational therapy practice in Ireland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Play and play occupation: a survey of paediatric occupational therapy practice in Ireland |
| title_short | Play and play occupation: a survey of paediatric occupational therapy practice in Ireland |
| title_sort | play and play occupation a survey of paediatric occupational therapy practice in ireland |
| topic | Quantitative Play occupation Children’s occupational therapy |
| url | https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/IJOT-08-2017-0022 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alicemoore playandplayoccupationasurveyofpaediatricoccupationaltherapypracticeinireland AT helenlynch playandplayoccupationasurveyofpaediatricoccupationaltherapypracticeinireland |