In this systematic review, the authors set out to analyze research on the effectiveness of feeding interventions relevant to or using OT in children from birth to 5 years of age. 34 studies were review, yielding 3 broad categories of intervention themes regarding feeding approaches. Intervention approaches were considered behavioral (based on operant learning principles), parent-directed/educational (caregiver info and recommendations), or physiological (children's biological development, including physical and sensory functions to support infant feeding). The results of the review suggest that various feeding approaches may result in positive outcomes. The authors suggest these results should not be generalized to all children with feeding concerns, reporting that additional research is necessary to examine populations with feeding difficulties.

With the intention of synthesizing research on OT interventions used to promote social-emotional development in young children with or at risk for disabilities, Jane Case-Smith reviewed and organized 23 studies into 5 themes. These 5 themes include: 1) touch-based interventions to enhance calming and parent-infant bonding, 2) relationship-based interventions to promote positive caregiver-child interactions, 3) joint attention interventions, 4) naturalistic preschool interventions to promote peer-to-peer engagement, and 5) instruction-based interventions to teach children appropriate social behaviors. Touch-based interventions were supported through research with infants in the NICU and showed higher cognition at 12 months than the control group. Relationship-based interventions were supported through research with children with ASD, institutionalized children, and children who spent time in the NICU. Joint attention interventions were supported for use with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Peer-to-peer engagement interventions were supported with the use of computer activities, toys, etc. Instruction-based interventions demonstrated that specific instruction in socially appropriate behavior appears to have moderately positive effects on improving children's social competence.

The authors of this systematic review sought to gather the available evidence base in order to determine best practice in terms of service delivery models and methods used in early intervention. The results of the initial search were categorized into one of 3 categories of service delivery: family centeredness, service setting, and type of parent participation. Through analysis of 18 articles, the authors determined that: parents' perceptions of efficacy and satisfaction increased when interventions were embedded in family routines and settings; these studies support the use of combined approaches across environments, though they did not specifically compare differences in outcomes in varying environments; and parenting classes were found to decrease stress, improve parents' relationships, as well as lead to improved cognitive scores in children when added to early intervention services. The implications of this review on OT practice support the continued use of family-centered approaches, individually tailored interventions, post-intervention assessments to determine effectiveness of interventions, and therapist feedback to increase outcomes.

This link is a great introduction to the psychological side of practicing in a worker compensation setting. I have found that there can be many obstacles to successful return to work for these clients, and a therapist needs to be skilled in identifying and addressing these barriers accurately and appropriately within the scope of practice.

This link is a great resource for an OT or COTA working in multiple states or a traveling therapist. The link is a comprehensive description of the statutes, regulations, roles/responsibilities, delegation, and supervision outlined and organized by each state. I feel like this would be a great way to familiarize myself with the similarities and differences from state to state.

This link summarizes the concerns of various health care professionals regarding ethical issues facing the health care field in this time of change. Quality and safety versus efficiency of care is an ongoing debate which spurs the question, what values do we want driving our health care system. Other identified ethical issues include access to care, future of the health care workforce, end-of-life issues, and limited medication and donor organs. This link brings these issues to light for further research and debate.

I chose to link this article to our group because it is short, informative, and can be applied to many settings. Professionalism is a very important factor in successful practice, possibly more so for entry level practitioners. This list of characteristics can be used to assess one's own level of professionalism and serve as a guide to improvement.

This link is to a tool designed to assist FW educators in understanding the scoring aspect of the FWPE by providing behavioral expectations of the OT student. The information is organized by performance area. Evaluations and Screening, and Intervention are the two performance areas addressed in this link. Specific items for each performance area are then defined by the 1-4 point rating scale with behavioral examples as guidance. This tool is also a great guide for students in self-assessment of clinical reasoning skills. As we know, self-reflection is a key element of professional growth. This is a tool I plan to use occasionally during my FW to ensure competence in clinical reasoning.

In this article, Arbesman, Lieberman, and Metzler discuss the importance of best practice through evidence in clinical decision making. The authors define the framework of EBP as requiring integration of information from clinical experience and reasoning, preferences of clients and their families, and findings of best available research. Also discussed in this article are AOTA Practice Guidelines, Critically Appraised Topics, interventions for health through living independently, and interventions for chronic care management.