title: Effect of Occupational Therapy-Led Playgroups in Early Intervention on Child Playfulness and Caregiver Responsiveness: A Repeated-Measures Design.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study's objective was to investigate the effects of a community playgroup on the playfulness of children with special needs ages 15 mo to 3 yr and the responsiveness of their caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a pretest-posttest, repeated-measures design, we evaluated 8 child-caregiver dyads participating in an 8-wk occupational therapist-led community playgroup recruited from a purposive sample enrolled in early intervention. Video recordings from four time points over 4 mo were used to determine playfulness (Test of Playfulness) of the child and the responsiveness of the caregiver.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blinded raters assessed playfulness and responsiveness outcomes. A repeated-measures analysis of variance demonstrated that participation in the playgroup significantly increased child playfulness (ηp² = .89, p < .01). Analysis did not detect a change in caregiver responsiveness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study have implications for the use of playgroups in comprehensive occupational therapy practice in early intervention.
authors.affiliation: Sarah E. Fabrizi, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers. At the time of the study, she was Doctoral Student, Department of Occupational Therapy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL; sfabrizi@fgcu.edu.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Fabrizi
authors.affiliation: Max A. Ito, PhD, is Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy, College of Health Care Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
authors.forename: Max A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Kristin Winston, PhD, is PhD Program Director and Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy, College of Health Care Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winston
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003153:Community Health Services; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D010988:Play and Playthings; D014741:Video Recording