What does the research section do?
The research section was set up to mirror that of the COT research body. Its main focus was to create a cohesive research strategy defined by and specific to the needs of our membership, to help members take that strategy forward and underpin our practice with evidence of effectiveness.
We hope that in the future we can look at sourcing grants for commissioned investigations related to our priority research themes. Unfortunately we cannot provide funding for members' research activity as we do not have sufficient financial resources. However, by creating this dedicated section we can currently do the following:
- facilitate interaction between members with an interest in research.
- provide access to OTDBASE for members looking for particular articles.
- link up members with an interest in particular research themes.
- help with finding OTs to interview or survey (in line with our new document "assistance for members engaged in research". ).
- facilitate a web discussion forum.
- provide advice for students and members.
- hold a poster competition to encourage student research.
We do not yet hold a database on published studies or books related to OT for children, young people and their families, but we do invite members who have done literature searches to post their list on this web page and help fellow researchers. Members would also like to hear about any books you may have found useful during your research so why not let us have the references?
We hope the information on this page is useful to you all.
If you have any suggestions for improvements we would welcome your comments.
Research & Audit Database
Children’s, Young People and Families holds a database of members' research/audit skills and any past or existing projects that have been completed.
We do this for a number of reasons. Firstly, it enables us to know what might be available to aid evidence based practice for all members. It also allows us to identify and contact members who have been or are engaged in research/audit in specific topic areas and find out more about their outcomes and look at how they might influence future research priorities for the membership. Finally, by holding the database we are able to put members in contact with others with similar interests for mutual support should they so wish.
All data provided is confidential and held in accordance with the data protection act. No other member will have access to your personal details or research information unless you have given us permission.
Done an in-depth literature search on a topic recently? Share it with fellow members
Why don’t you share your findings with the specialist section members? Send your work or findings to - Jackie Casey (Chair of Children, Young Peoples and Families Practice and Education Subgroup) j.casey@ulster.ac.uk.
What Works in Promoting Children's Mental Health?
The above report, recently published by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), explored the evidence for potential links between 'Sure Start' pre-school education programmes and mental health in young children. Based on two major reviews of the published literature, the report found that effective illness prevention/early intervention programmes shared the following features:
- comprehensiveness - programmes included multiple components because no single component could prevent high-risk behaviour
- system orientation - interventions aimed to change institutions as well as individuals
- relatively high intensity and long duration - short-term programmes tended to have time-limited benefits
- structured curriculum - interventions were directed at risk and protective factors rather than at problem behaviours
- early commencement - intervention during pregnancy brought additional benefits
- specific to particular risk factors - prevention needed to be disorder, context and objective specific
- specific training - little information was available about the qualifications needed to carry out preventive work
- attention to maintaining attendance - the families most in need of early prevention programmes were those most likely to drop out, therefore they needed high levels of support to engage in interventions
The report concluded that approaches based on single conceptual models were untenable, with successful strategies being both multi-dimensional and flexible. The most effective interventions were those in which families were fully engaged, which they perceived to be useful and which left parents feeling competent/confident. Such findings are likely to relate to many areas of occupational therapists' work!
Summaries and full copies of the above report are available from www.surestart.gov.uk or from DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham, NG15 0DJ (Ref. EOR/SBU/2003/174); email dfes@prolog.uk.co
NAPOT Assistance for Members Engaged in Research
Mentorship and peer support, help with research and more.
NAPOT Survey of Research and Audit Activity (73KB 
*)
We are trying to establish a base line of research and audit activity amongst members. Please help us by
completing and returning the survey by e-mail or by downloading and posting.
Powered Mobility for Young Children
By Anne Harris, Mobility Therapist, Whizz-Kidz; Jan Nicholson, Paediatric Occupation Therapist; Ronnie MacKieth, CDC, Derby.
References (24KB *)
Waiting
Lists for Children with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder
On
September 1st 2003 the COT in association with Children’s, Young People and Families launched a report on waiting lists and waiting times for
occupational
therapy
services
for children
with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder.
Don't forget to check the forum; there may be someone out there with similar interests wanting to share information.
We have a section on student research, including lists of possible topics for student dissertations, information for students conducting literature reviews and those wanting to interview paediatric OTs.
Don't forget the COT website's research section also has a lot of useful links listed.
Finally if you have any ideas or suggestions related to research please contact us.
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