A review of paediatric occupational therapy university curricula in South Africa: Part one

Abstract

The paediatric content of the eight undergraduate and entry-level postgraduate occupational therapy programmes in South Africa was examined through a survey of the faculties. In the first of a two-part article documenting the study, current best practices in paediatric occupational therapy are reviewed by means of a literature review. Part two will identify and discuss the current status of the paediatric content of occupational therapy education programmes in South Africa, including theoretical frameworks, assessments and intervention strategies. The literature suggests that there is a degree of commonality in paediatric occupational therapy practice between Canada, the US, the UK and Australia in terms of theoretical frameworks, assessment tools and intervention strategies used. Teaching staff must not only include current best practices based on sound research evidence in paediatrics in curricula, but teach in the context of the diverse client diagnostic groups that students will encounter upon graduation.