The use of sensory diet among occupational therapist who works in paediatric setting in Malaysia / Nur Amalina Mohamad Salleh

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study was to identify the type of sensory diet mostly used by an occupational therapist who works in a paediatric setting in Malaysia. The second aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the types of sensory diet chosen by the occupational therapist with their demographic information. Research Design: This study was a cross-sectional study design that involves only one point of contact with the participants. A sensory diet survey form developed by Peterson and White (2018) was distributed through online such as Whatsapp, Email and Facebook to the occupational therapist who works in paediatric settings in Malaysia. Finding: A total of 61 participants responded to the questionnaire and the type of sensory diet mostly used by the occupational therapist was joint compression that related to the treatment for proprioception. Meanwhile, there was no relationship between the type of sensory diet chosen by the occupational therapist with their demographic information, which were the age, gender, race, level work setting and years of practice. The relationship for the work setting found only in · the techniques of scooter board, food texture and other modalities in physical activities. This was probably due to lack of sources of the modalities itself due to environmental restriction. Otherwise, the relationship for the years of practice only found in the techniques of scooter board, vibration, chewing, playground activities and other modalities in auditory component and proprioception.