Barlow Kate, Sullivan Kelsey, Lauren Scott
Division of Occupational Therapy American International College Springfield Massachusetts USA.
Health Care Sci. 2024 May 27;3(3):163-171. doi: 10.1002/hcs2.95. eCollection 2024 Jun.
Occupational therapists can play a key role in early identification of delay at the population health level by providing education to public health employees on how to implement developmental monitoring with caregivers of children birth to age 5.
A pretest posttest design was utilized to assess the online education and training that was provided to Department of Public Health employees ( = 339), including Head Start, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, Home Visiting, and Early Intervention.
Analysis of pretest-posttest survey data showed significant results for all 12 key learning outcomes. Six out of 12 outcomes were found to have a large effect size ( > 0.8), 4 outcomes indicated a medium effect size ( > 0.5), and 2 outcomes had a small effect size ( > 0.2). Participants gained knowledge of the "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (LTSAE) developmental monitoring program, the difference between developmental monitoring and screening, the state's referral system and age-appropriate parental engagement activities through knowledge of child development.
Occupational therapists are child development specialists who can provide education on developmental monitoring and activities for parental engagement. The online course proved to be an effective platform to promote LTSAE within state agencies.
职业治疗师可通过向公共卫生工作人员提供关于如何与出生至5岁儿童的照料者开展发育监测的教育，在人群健康层面的发育迟缓早期识别中发挥关键作用。
采用前测后测设计，对向公共卫生部门工作人员（n = 339）提供的在线教育和培训进行评估，这些工作人员包括启智计划、妇女、婴儿和儿童特殊补充营养计划、家访以及早期干预项目的工作人员。
对前测和后测调查数据的分析显示，所有12项关键学习成果均取得显著成效。12项成果中有6项显示出较大效应量（> 0.8），4项成果显示出中等效应量（> 0.5），2项成果显示出较小效应量（> 0.2）。参与者通过了解儿童发育情况，掌握了“学习迹象，及早行动”（LTSAE）发育监测项目、发育监测与筛查的区别、该州的转诊系统以及适合不同年龄段的家长参与活动。
职业治疗师是儿童发育专家，能够提供有关发育监测和家长参与活动的教育。该在线课程被证明是在州政府机构内推广LTSAE的有效平台。
