ciTechCare, Polytechnic of Leiria, Campus 2-Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal.
School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic of Leiria, Campus 2-Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro, Apartado 4137, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Oct 5;18(19):10452. doi: 10.3390/ijerph181910452.
(1) Background: Sensory processing disorder is now recognised as a core feature of autism spectrum disorder that influences children's adaptive behaviours, which, in turn, may interfere with their participation in life situations. This study describes the process of developing a technological platform, in the form of an app, to help families regulate children with ASD, aged 3-6 years old, by applying sensory strategies to improve the child's participation in daily routines in the home context. (2) Methods: A focus group formed by four specialised occupational therapists who intervene with children with ASD was selected in order to understand and discuss content that should be included in the app. At a later stage, a group of three was involved to ensure quality and veracity in technological platform elaboration. (3) Results: The purpose of the app, named Regul-A, is to help parents regulate children with ASD regarding their participation in home routines. The sensory strategies provided by the focus group in the three major occupations of the child were the first results obtained, followed by the development of the app structure. (4) Conclusions: The next phase of the study will be the use of the platform by families of children with ASD and occupational therapists. It is believed that, in the future, Regul-A will be used as a tool to gather, analyse and manage data on the occupational performance of children with ASD in the home context, particularly for activities of daily living, sleep, rest and play, facilitating the implementation of strategies and the sharing of information between parents and occupational therapists.
(1) 背景：感觉处理障碍现在被认为是自闭症谱系障碍的一个核心特征，它会影响儿童的适应行为，进而可能干扰他们参与生活情境。本研究描述了开发一种技术平台的过程，该平台以应用感官策略来帮助家庭调节 3-6 岁自闭症儿童的应用程序(app)的形式出现，以提高儿童在家庭环境中参与日常生活的能力。(2) 方法：选择了由四名专门从事自闭症儿童干预的职业治疗师组成的焦点小组，以便了解和讨论应包含在应用程序中的内容。在稍后阶段，有三名治疗师参与，以确保技术平台的质量和真实性。(3) 结果：该应用程序名为 Regul-A，旨在帮助父母调节自闭症儿童在家务活动中的参与度。焦点小组在儿童的三大主要职业中提供的感官策略是首先获得的结果，然后是应用程序结构的开发。(4) 结论：下一阶段的研究将是自闭症儿童的家庭和职业治疗师使用该平台。人们相信，未来 Regul-A 将被用作工具，收集、分析和管理自闭症儿童在家庭环境中的职业表现数据，特别是在日常生活活动、睡眠、休息和游戏方面，促进策略的实施和家长与职业治疗师之间的信息共享。
