SURVEY OF EXPERIENCES OF MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAMS ON THE ROLE OF PHYSIOTHERAPY IN INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorder, Physical therapy, Multidisciplinary interventionAbstract
Objectives: To learn about the experiences of members of multidisciplinary teams working with physical therapists (PT) in intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: Qualitative description. Results: We found that the study participants, including physicians, psychologists, PTs, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and special education teachers, shared their understanding of the role of PTs, but 100% had no practical experience in incorporating PTs in multidisciplinary intervention teams for children with ASD. Conclusion: Limited awareness and practical experience of multidisciplinary team members in collaborating with physical therapists in intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder.
References
1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. 5th ed. Arlington: American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2013. DOI:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
2. Maenner MJ. Prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years - autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2020. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2023;72(2):1-14. DOI:10.15585/mmwr.ss7202a1
3. Pusponegoro HD, Efar P, Soedjatmiko, Ismael S. Gross motor profile and its association with socialization skills in children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatr Neonatol. 2016;57(6):501-507. DOI:10.1016/j.pedneo.2016.02.004
4. May T, McGinley J, Murphy A, Williams K. A multidisciplinary perspective on motor impairment as an early behavioural marker in children with autism spectrum disorder. Aust Psychol. 2016;51(4):296-303. DOI:10.1111/ap.12225
5. Ahmed MM, Al Areefy AA, Alsayegh AA. Does neurodevelopmental approach of physical therapy have an impact on gross motor and cognitive function of non-obese children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? A randomized controlled trial. JDR. 2025;4(1). doi:10.57197/JDR-2024-0120. DOI:10.57197/JDR-2024-0120
6. Katsiana A, Strimpakos N, Ioannis V, Kapreli E. Health-related quality of life in children with autism spectrum disorder and children with Down syndrome. Mater Sociomed. 2020;32(2):93-98. DOI:10.5455/msm.2020.32.93-98
7. Otefy NA, Al-Rafay SSE, Thabet AM. Quality of life in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): an assessment study. Egypt J Health Care. 2024;15(3):189-199. DOI:10.21608/ejhc.2024.371049
8. Yingling ME, Bell BA. Utilization of speech-language, occupational and physical therapy by diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Child Care Health Dev. 2020;46(5):563-570. DOI:10.1111/cch.12790
9. Sandelowski M. Whatever happened to qualitative description? Res Nurs Health. 2000;23(4):334-340. DOI:10.1002/1098-240X(200008)23:4<334::AID-NUR9>3.0.CO;2-G
10. Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care. 2007;19(6):349-357. DOI:10.1093/intqhc/mzm042
11. Malik-Soni N, Shaker A, Luck H, et al. Tackling healthcare access barriers for individuals with autism from diagnosis to adulthood. Pediatr Res. 2022;91(5):1028-1035. DOI:10.1038/s41390-021-01465-y
12. Castaño PRL, Suárez DPM, González ER, Hernández AM. Effects of physical exercise on gross motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2023;54(8):2816-2825. DOI:10.1007/s10803-023-06031-5
13. Najafabadi MG, Sheikh M, Hemayattalab R, et al. The effect of SPARK on social and motor skills of children with autism. Pediatr Neonatol. 2018;59(5):481-487. DOI:10.1016/j.pedneo.2017.12.005
14. Boman C, Bernhardsson S. Exploring needs, barriers, and facilitators for promoting physical activity for children with intellectual developmental disorders: a qualitative focus group study. J Intellect Disabil. 2023;27(1):5-23. DOI:10.1177/17446295211064368
15. Strunk J, Leisen M, Schubert C. Using a multidisciplinary approach with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. J Interprofessional Educ Pract. 2017;8:60-68. DOI:10.1016/j.xjep.2017.03.009
16. Atun-Einy O, Lotan M, Harel Y, Steinberg T. Physical therapy for young children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders - clinical frameworks model in an Israeli setting. Front Pediatr. 2013;1:1-9. DOI:10.3389/fped.2013.00019
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Thị Minh Nguyệt Trần, Thị Cẩm Vân Lương (Tác giả)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
