Purposeful Occupational Therapy Intervention for Behavioural Competencies in Preschoolers for Transit from Home to School: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Background: Transits are when children move from one activity to another. Everyday transits includearriving at an educational setting from home, moving from dinner to playtime, finishing playtime andcleaning up, brushing teeth and then taking a bath, and going from bath time to bedtime. Transits can bedifficult for some parents, particularly when taking their young children out into the community, pickingthem up from educational settings, or moving between activities and routines at home. For some children,transits may be frustrating or may provoke anxiety, and it may lead to challenging behaviours.Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of occupational therapy intervention oninappropriate behaviour of a child in preschool, while transit.Study Design: Experimental, randomized, intervention-controlled study design was chosen for the research.Methods: Preschoolers were divided into two groups based on randomized controlled study design. Controlgroup were given the usual classes as provided by the school, where as experimental group were providedwith occupational therapy, and early intervention program. They were assessed using the Preschool BehaviourQuestionnaire (PBQ). Behaviours, attitude, signs, languages and amount and type of intermediation of thepre-schoolers and their activities needed for learning, were observed during focused group playing tasks andevaluated by the PBQ.Result: Sixteen pre-schoolers in control and sixteen pre-schoolers in experimental group were assigned (8females and 24 males). According to the result the experimental pre-post analysis (P=0.00; 95%CI: 18.96,22.90) were statistically lower than the control group pre-post analysis (P=0.201; 95%CI: -8.23,35.98) andshowed a significant improvement in behaviour of a pre-schooler while transit from home to school whichwas the principal focus area of occupational therapy.Conclusion: The study reflected significant improvement in behavioural and emotional issues in preschoolers with occupational therapy and early intervention program.