Plotting current practices and challenges among Indonesian occupational therapists working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders

ABSTRACT

Indonesian occupational therapists, despite being few in numbers, face a high demand for quality care due to the high prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Hence, there is a need to investigate how Indonesian occupational therapists render services for individuals with ASD. The objectives of this study were to describe Indonesian occupational therapy practice and identify the challenges in rendering services for individuals with ASD. This cross-sectional study employed an online survey with structured and open-ended questions to collect data from Indonesian occupational therapists who work with persons with ASD. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyse data. Survey was completed with an 88% response rate. Sensory Integration and Short Sensory Profile are the most common frame of reference and standardised assessment, respectively. Challenges identified were: translating theory into practice, being creative and skilful, improving competence for effective collaboration, supporting parental involvement, and overcoming stigma. This study clarified the nature of current Indonesian occupational therapy practice for individuals with ASD and the challenges faced by Indonesian OTs in rendering services for persons with ASD.

KEYWORDS:

• Occupational therapy
• professionalism
• intervention
• survey
• education
• creative
• stigma

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to Tokyo Metropolitan University and Tokyo Metropolitan Government for awarding the ‘Tokyo Human Resources Fund for City Diplomacy’ scholarship to the main author. Extend appreciation is conveyed for the Indonesian Occupational Therapists Association to enable the survey. We would like to mostly acknowledge Professor Sharon Brintnell and Professor Shaniff Esmail, for sharing expertise wholeheartedly for the development of the occupational therapy profession in Indonesia and in particular, for valuable feedback to this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was conducted by the first author as part of a doctoral degree in the Department of Occupational Therapy, Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University. It is funded by the Tokyo Human Resources Fund for City Diplomacy, grant number 108050402. The universal requirement for ethics was reviewed and approved by Tokyo Metropolitan University Ethics Committee. We declare no conflicts of interest.