Clinical Cases for Learning Pediatric Occupational Therapy: A Problem-Based Approach

In day-to-day clinical practice, pediatric occupational therapists are continually faced with clients who present problems that need to be understood and managed effectively. While most pediatric occupational therapy texts structure learning around theoretical frameworks or medical diagnoses, Clinical Cases for Learning Pediatric Occupational Therapy: A Problem-Based Approach is based on the principles of problem-based learning (PBL) and provides a rich source of resource material to enhance learning. To my knowledge, this book is the first of its kind in the field of occupational therapy.
The basic premise of problem-based learning is that a true-to-life clinical problem is used as the stimulus for learning. The author has provided a series of vignettes and case-based problems that cover the spectrum of pediatric practice. The clients in these cases range in age from infancy to middle childhood and present with various medical diagnoses and occupational performance problems in a variety of practice settings. The cases raise important learning issues for further study, such as the use of theoretical frames of reference, models of practice, assessment tools, teamwork collaboration, and state-of-the-art research. Through the exploration of the problem, the learner engages in the process of critical thinking while applying and integrating new information and uses clinical reasoning for determining the role of occupational therapy.
Although Clinical Cases was written primarily for occupational therapy educators and their students, practicing pediatric therapists also may find this text a valuable learning resource for professional development and continuing education. In its entirety, this book constitutes an extensive pediatric PBL curriculum that is ideally suited for teaming in small groups with a tutor or facilitator; however, individuals and small informal groups of learners can easily design their own program of study using the summary table at the beginning of each module. Learners may use the questions, learning resource lists, and research information provided for each case to guide the learning process and evaluate outcomes.
This book not only serves as a landmark in the history of occupational therapy education, but perhaps more importantly, it provides an exciting opportunity for occupational therapy students and clinicians to gain knowledge and skill in pediatric practice.