Peer-reviewed article
Mapping occupational therapy interventions in caregiver skill training for children with neurodiversity: a scoping review protocol.
Pandian K, Manzoor HM, John SA, Benoy NA, Sunny B ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This is a protocol document outlining the planned methodology for a scoping review of occupational therapy caregiver skill training programmes for children with autism and ADHD. The review has not yet been conducted; it describes the intended search strategy, eligibility criteria, and analysis approach based on the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. No findings, outcomes or evidence are presented because the research has not been completed.
Key points
- The document is a protocol (plan) not a completed review or evaluation
- It aims to map occupational therapy caregiver training programmes for children with neurodiversity
- Target populations are caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Searches will cover studies from 2000 to 2025 across multiple databases
- No specific countries are named or focused on
Limitations
This is a protocol document that describes future work, not completed research. It contains no empirical findings, outcome data, or evidence about intervention effectiveness.
Abstract
Introduction Caregivers of children with neurodiversity, particularly autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, experience sustained occupational, emotional and participation-related challenges. Occupational therapy (OT) plays a crucial role in supporting caregivers through skill training that enhances daily routines, participation and family functioning. Although caregiver training programmes are described across multiple disciplines, the scope, nature and specific contribution of OT-related caregiver skill training interventions remain insufficiently synthesised, with fragmented terminology, heterogeneous theoretical foundations and inconsistent reporting. To date, there appears to be limited synthesis specifically mapping OT-related caregiver skill training programmes for caregivers of children with neurodiversity. Objectives This scoping review aims to identify and map the range, characteristics and implementation features of OT-related caregiver skill-training programmes for caregivers of children with neurodiversity. Secondary objectives are to describe how these programmes are structured and to examine delivery characteristics, including mode, provider, setting, duration and contextual or cultural adaptations. Methods and analysis This protocol follows the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework for scoping reviews and will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Review guidelines. Eligibility criteria are guided by the Population-Concept-Context framework. The review will include mixed-methods studies, intervention studies (randomised and non-randomised), feasibility studies and programme descriptions published in English from 2000 to 2025. Electronic searches will be conducted in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science. The PubMed search strategy will undergo peer review in accordance with the PRESS 2015 guidelines. Study selection and data charting will be performed independently by multiple reviewers. Data will be synthesised descriptively and narratively, with results presented in tables, conceptual maps and an evidence gap map. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required as this review uses publicly available data. Findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentations at relevant scientific and professional forums to inform clinical practice, policy development and future research in caregiver-focused OT interventions.