Introduction: The Japanese Occupational Therapy Association has published occupational therapy guidelines for "Autism Spectrum Disorders, 1st Edition" (2022); however, a "general public guide" has not yet been created.
Purpose: This study aimed to develop a "general public guide" using the three-stage Delphi method. Occupational therapists, individuals with ASD, and their families participated in this study. Our information will help clients undergoing occupational therapy, and here, we report the results of our first survey.
Method: We asked about the importance of 10 clinical questions for occupational therapy assessment and 11 occupational therapy interventions in the first survey, using a 10-point scale with a questionnaire mailed to the participants. The response criteria were as follows: the 10-point scale responses ranged from "important" to "not important," with more than 75% of respondents selecting 1 or 2 for "important." The data were collected from September 19 to December 6, 2024. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of the researchers' affiliated institutions, and there are no conflicts of interest to disclose related to any company or organization.
Results: A total of 52 people participated in the study, including 31 occupational therapists, five adults with ASD, and 16 family members. In the first survey, there were no major agreements on occupational therapy assessment. However, the participants reached a consensus on the "approach to the family," "approach to the nursery school/school," and "early intervention" from the occupational therapy intervention standpoint.
Consideration: In Japan, the importance of consulting occupational therapists for families and schools has become apparent.