Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Work. 2020;66(3):669-674. doi: 10.3233/WOR-203209.
Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) in Trinidad is limited to costly private sector provision, which restricts access to only those families that can afford it. Public-sector healthcare, however, is offered free of charge to citizens. Establishing public-sector OT can increase the well-being and quality of life of children with disabilities and their families, as well as broaden the professional paths available to occupational therapists.
In the absence of local studies, primary research was undertaken to demonstrate the demand for services. The results of this study will be presented to government officials to argue for the inclusion of pediatric OT into one public-sector hospital in Trinidad.
Eighty-eight parents/caregivers of a child with special needs were surveyed at one public sector-waiting room or two private-sector therapy clinics. Surveys questioned parents' desire for occupational therapy services for their child, their willingness to use public-sector-provided therapy and their belief that such therapy would benefit families in Trinidad, among other items.
Of the 88 participants surveyed, 98.8% believed that occupational therapy offered at one public-sector clinic in Trinidad would benefit families. The main deterrents to accessing the proposed public-sector therapy included satisfaction with the current therapist (40%) and concerns with convenience (33%) and efficiency (27%). Parents whose children were not currently receiving therapy cited cost (67%) and location (38%) as the main barriers.
Primary research findings demonstrate that the vast majority of parents/caregivers believe that public-sector pediatric occupational therapy would benefit families. Service free of charge will increase access for many families who cannot currently afford treatment. Implications of a pediatric public-sector clinic also include the expansion of occupational therapy as a profession in Trinidad.
特立尼达的儿科职业治疗（OT）仅限于昂贵的私营部门提供，这使得只有那些负担得起的家庭才能获得服务。然而，公共部门的医疗保健是免费提供给公民的。建立公共部门的 OT 可以提高残疾儿童及其家庭的幸福感和生活质量，同时拓宽职业治疗师的职业道路。
由于缺乏当地研究，进行了初步研究以证明对服务的需求。本研究的结果将提交给政府官员，以争取将儿科 OT 纳入特立尼达的一家公立医院。
在一家公立医院的等候室或两家私营部门的治疗诊所，对 88 名有特殊需要的儿童的父母/照顾者进行了调查。调查询问了父母对孩子进行职业治疗服务的愿望、他们是否愿意使用公共部门提供的治疗以及他们是否相信这种治疗对特立尼达的家庭有益等问题。
在接受调查的 88 名参与者中，98.8%的人认为特立尼达一家公立医院提供的职业治疗将使家庭受益。阻碍获得拟议的公共部门治疗的主要因素包括对当前治疗师的满意度（40%）、对便利性（33%）和效率（27%）的担忧。那些孩子目前没有接受治疗的父母则将费用（67%）和地点（38%）列为主要障碍。
初步研究结果表明，绝大多数父母/照顾者认为公共部门的儿科职业治疗将使家庭受益。免费服务将增加许多目前无法负担治疗费用的家庭的获得机会。儿科公共部门诊所的影响还包括在特立尼达扩大职业治疗作为一种专业。
