Request for therapist participants for the doctoral research project of Elaina
DaLomba, PhD-C @TWU (with faculty advisor Dr. Francie Baxter, OTR, PhD)
OTs WORKING IN PEDIATRICS—Evidenced Based Research OPPORTUNITY
We are recruiting 30 occupational therapists working with parents or caregivers of
children (1-12 years-old) with special needs to participate in the study below. The
children may have any diagnosis except genetic disorders (Down’s Syndrome,
Fragile X, Prader-Willi etc.)
TITLE: The Life Participation for Parents (LPP) as an Outcome Measure under
the direction of Patricia Fingerhut, OTR, PhD, Associate Professor and Chair of the
Occupational Therapy Department at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
PURPOSES OF THE STUDY
1.) To develop a tool to make therapy more family-centered. Raising a child with
special needs can affect a parent’s time and daily activities. The Life Participation
for Parents (LPP) is a 23-item parent questionnaire that can help therapists
determine what issues parents are having.
2.) To determine If Sensory issues and/or Behavior problems correlate with
increased/decreased parent participation in children under 3 years-old.
PROCEDURE
Parents of children 3-12 years-old will complete the LPP at start of study. OT’s will
use results to develop family-centered goals or continue with these if already in
place. They will provide interventions in a family-centered manner for 3 months,
then have the parents fill out the LPP at the 3-month point to measure change.
Parents of children under 3 will fill out the LPP, AND the Infant Toddler Sensory
Profile AND the Child Behavior Checklist at start. They will review LPP and follow
protocol as above, giving the LPP ONLY at the 3-month point of intervention.
**Only the parents are being asked to complete forms, not the children.
TIME COMMITMENT
The LPP takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, the Infant Toddler Sensory
Profile about 20, and The Child Behavior Checklist about 20-30 minutes. There is a
small gift of appreciation (gift card) for parents and therapists who participate.
If you have potential parent participants and are interested in becoming part of
some evidenced-based research, please contact Elaina DaLomba, OTR
@ejdalomba@gmail.com or 210-573-6156 and she will give you complete details.
Thank you for your help!
Elaina DaLomba