Sensory processing disorder : perceptions of the clinical role of the advanced psychiatric nurse

Abstract

Sensory processing disorder is a neurological condition that is a reality in the lives of many children. These children form part of the patient population to which advanced psychiatric nurses render healthcare. Currently there is no specific inclusion of formal education on this condition for the advanced psychiatric nurse and clarity on the clinical role of the advanced psychiatric nurse in sensory processing disorder is still unclear. This is a loss in clinical nursing practice with regard to diagnosis, treatment and research. The purpose of this study was to explore and clarify the perceptions of healthcare professionals in South Africa with regard to what the clinical role of the advanced psychiatric nurse is in sensory processing disorder with the intent to provide a description of this role to guide the future clinical practice of the advanced psychiatric nurse. An explorative and descriptive design was used. Sampling was initiated using a purposive sample that included healthcare professionals in the personal resource database of the researcher's private practice. Initial sampling was followed by snowball sampling if potential participants agreed to act as mediators in the recruitment process. The Delphi technique was implemented with three sequential rounds, gathering data on the perceptions of the healthcare professionals regarding the clinical role of the advanced psychiatric nurse in sensory processing disorder. Three online questionnaires were sent via Survey Monkey. The first round included an open-ended question (sample size=18) to gather data on the opinions of the health professionals with regard to the clinical role. Data round 2 (sample size=18) included a statement questionnaire that were based on the perceptions of the participants of round 1 with agreed/disagreed answers using a 5-point Likert scale. In the third and final data round (sample size=18) the same statement questionnaire of the second round was sent back to the respondents together with the descriptive statistics and remarks gathered during round two with the purpose of giving participants the opportunity to review their responses from the previous round and to again agree or disagree according to the 5-point Likert scale. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the qualitative data were analysed with the use of thematic analysis. Analysis of the data produced the following main themes - (a) Specialized training of the APN on sensory processing disorder; (b) Interventions carried out by the APN with regard to sensory processing disorder; (c) Adequate support to the family with regard to sensory processing disorder; and (d) Referral of a child with sensory processing disorder. The study indicates that the healthcare professionals, who are experts in delivering healthcare to children with sensory processing disorder, agree that the advanced psychiatric nurse with additional training in this condition has a clinical role to play in rendering healthcare to these healthcare users. Recommendations for nursing practice, nursing education and further research could be formulated in this regard