Occupational therapy in the care of children with autism spectrum disorder: a survey on evidence-based clinical practice

Abstract

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its impact on the development of autonomy-related competencies have highlighted the importance of occupational therapy interventions from early childhood. This field of study is characterized by a strong focus on functional outcomes and a commitment to evidence-based practices. Objectives: To analyze the current occupational therapy practices in the care of children with ASD in Spain. Method: An online questionnaire was developed using Qualtrics® platform, consisting of 27 questions covering education, preferred theoretical model, intervention objectives, assessment tools, collaboration with other professionals, and satisfaction with practice. A total of 151 occupational therapists completed the survey. Descriptive analysis was performed using absolute frequencies, percentages, mean, and mode. Results: Sensory integration was the most reported area of education (70.83%) and the preferred theoretical model (62.32%). Play was the most frequently targeted intervention goal (86.15%), and the most used assessment tool was the Sensory Profile-2 (84.74%). Overall, respondents reported high satisfaction with their practice (73.81%), though many expressed a desire for change (73.81%). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind conducted in Spain, focusing on occupational therapists working with children with ASD. Our findings represent a positive step toward developing strategies to enhance occupational therapy assessment and intervention and promote evidence-based practice.