Pediatric Therapy Network has partnered with researchers at universities across the nation to further advancements in the area of sensory integration to improve the outcomes for children with special needs. PTN has also participated in a variety of collaborative projects that paired clinical and university sites for the planning of a clinical trial study of occupational therapy using a sensory integration perspective.

Our organization is currently spearheading efforts to develop and implement new in-house research projects. Examples of PTN's current research-related activities include:

• Confirmatory Factor Analysis using the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests, Sensory Processing Measure and measures of attention. Using record review, approximately 400 data sets have been compiled for analysis. This study is in the process of IRB submission and review.
  
  
• Program evaluation: Analysis of the various PTN programs is underway including the development of logic models related to each department as well as data collection on the way in which the programs operate. PTN is also in the process of developing an in-house IRB which would facilitate research options emanating from the logic models.
  
  
• Parent Perceptions of Meaningful Outcomes: A qualitative study examining over 10 years of annual parent survey results is underway to further understand the ways in which parents report therapeutic intervention affects their children and families.
  
  
• Physiological Considerations: A number of projects are underway that include examining sensory reactivity using physiological measures. This data is collected in conjunction with occupational therapy researchers from the University of Southern California, Thomas Jefferson University, The University of New Mexico and Virginia Commonwealth University.
  
  
• Goal Attainment Scaling and Fidelity to Treatment Measure projects: PTN is in the process of piloting aspects of these processes, which have been identified as tools that show potential for contributing to effective determination and measurement of intervention and outcomes in sensory integration.
  
  
• Feasibility Studies: Exploration and preparation is underway for an implementation of several potential feasibility studies aimed at determining valid and replicable methods for measuring the effectiveness of occupational therapy using sensory integration methods.

RESEARCH ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Research and Advisory Council acts as a resource for Pediatric Therapy Network on research related issues or projects. This council is intended to provide a collaborative partnership between the center's resources and research related resources in accordance with the mission of our organization. For a complete list of members, click here.