Effects of Sensory Training on the Quality of Care Provided by Healthcare Professionals for Neurodivergent Pediatric Patients
Overview
A structured sensory training program significantly improved healthcare providers' knowledge, comfort, and perceived preparedness in caring for neurodivergent pediatric patients, as measured by survey responses.
Background
Neurodivergent pediatric patients often face sensory and communication challenges in hospital settings, which can complicate their care. Despite the prevalence of these challenges, formal training for healthcare providers on sensory-informed care remains limited. Enhancing provider knowledge and comfort through targeted training can improve the quality of care for these populations.
Data Highlights
Measure
Pre-training Mean (±SD)
Post-training Mean (±SD)
Follow-up Mean (±SD)
Commonality
8.25 ± 1.88
9.09 ± 1.35
8.82 ± 1.50
Knowledge
5.14 ± 2.07
7.81 ± 1.45
7.02 ± 1.61
Comfort
6.09 ± 2.27
7.90 ± 1.55
7.61 ± 1.73
Sensory Knowledge Quiz
8.42 ± 1.53
9.42 ± 1.53
N/A
Key Findings
1639 healthcare providers participated in the sensory training program.
Post-training assessments showed significant increases in perceived commonality, knowledge, and comfort in caring for neurodivergent children.
Higher sensory knowledge quiz scores were observed after training compared to pre-training scores.
Follow-up assessments indicated sustained improvements in provider-reported knowledge and comfort over 12 months.
Sensory tools were rated as the most beneficial intervention by 86.43% of participants.
Clinical Implications
Healthcare providers may benefit from structured sensory training to enhance their understanding and comfort in caring for neurodivergent pediatric patients. Implementing such training can lead to improved care experiences for both providers and patients.
Conclusion
The implementation of sensory training in a pediatric hospital setting has demonstrated improvements in provider knowledge and comfort levels in caring for neurodivergent patients.
by Michele Kong, Jeremiah A. Tella, Chelsea Brown, Meg Raby, Deena Elsheikh, Brittney Johnston, Jennifer Conway, Uma Srivastava, Julian Maha, Inmaculada Aban
