Objectives: This systematic review sought to examine existing studies addressing the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and children’s sleep quality. Methods: An exhaustive literature search was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Records were identified through PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Ovid. Results: Fourteen studies were reviewed showing moderate evidence supporting the relationship between ACEs and sleep problems. Child sexual abuse was the most frequently reported form of maltreatment and was significantly linked to sleep problems. Common sleep problems included difficulty falling asleep, nocturnal awakening, nightmares, daytime sleepiness, and poor quality of sleep. Discussion: Occupational therapy practitioners are encouraged to include evaluation and interventions for sleep disturbances in children who have known or suspected traumatic experiences. More specific studies are needed to further understand differences between ages and sexes and whether type of abuse makes a difference in this relationship.

Objectives: This systematic review examined the association of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) with quality of life (QoL) for pediatric oncology patients, for potential use in occupational therapy practice. Methods: Articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 2002-2019 from PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT), Journal of Oncology, SCOPUS, and OTSeeker were selected for AAI with therapy dogs specific to the target population of pediatric oncology patients undergoing treatment in clinical settings. Results: Moderate evidence was found for AAI and mood improvement, pain reduction, and stress relief; and low-level evidence supported AAI for decreasing anxiety. The most significant AAI improvements were seen in perceptions of pain, stress levels, and mood. Discussion: Evidence suggests that occupational therapists may want to consider incorporating AAI into therapy sessions as it serves as a distraction and short-term coping strategy for children undergoing oncological treatment.

Objective: To evaluate item-factor structures of the 15 sensory items from the Survey of Pathways to Diagnosis and Services (Pathways) and examine the best fitting model. Methods: The study subjects were 1,968 children aged 6-17 years, who had ever been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or Intellectual Disability (ID). Factor analyses and item response theory models were used to determine the best fitting item-factor structure of the sensory items. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) was used to test the concurrent validity of the sensory severity estimates. Results: A bifactor MIRT model (a general and four sensory factors) was selected as the best fitting model. All items statistically fitted to the bifactor model (p > .01) and showed moderate correlations with all five subscales of the SDQ (r s = .31 ~.51, p < .0001). The general sensory score differentiated the four different diagnostic groups (ASD, ID, ASD with ID, and no current symptoms) [F (3,1961) = 207.4, p < .0001]. Conclusion: The Pathways sensory items yielded reliable estimates of the general and each corresponding sensory factor by applying a bifactor MIRT model. The sensory score can be used as a valid sensory measure in the population survey.