An evaluation of the Cognitive Objects Play Intervention for children with profound multiple disabilities at a children’s Home and three daycare centers in South Africa.

Abstract

Introduction: This research evaluates the ‘Cognitive Objects Play Intervention’ (COPI) in Sizanani Children’s Home and three daycare centers in Bronkhorstspruit in South Africa. This therapy intends to improve the ‘Cognitive Play Performance’ (CPP) of children with multiple disabilities. The children in the Home received this therapy before, whereas for the daycare children it was new. Method: Thirty-nine children were selected to assess the effect of COPI. For the Home group (N=20) a within pretest-posttest design with matched control groups was used. For the daycare group (N=19) a single pretest-posttest design was used. All participants received ten therapy sessions within a period of five weeks. Progression in CPP was measured by means of the ‘Play Observation Scale’ (POS). Results: It seems that the positive results of the previous COPI period were contained, despite a lack of therapy for 15 months, as only non-significant differences were found between POS scores of the last measurement of the earlier study and the first measurement this year. Contrary to the expectations, no additional positive growth in CPP was found for the Home group after ten sessions of COPI in the present study. The daycare group did show the expected progression in CPP. Discussion: Results suggest that effects of COPI still exist after a period without therapy. The difference in findings between the Home and daycare group may indicate that highest progress is made when the therapy is new, and that further growth is more difficult as children come closer to their highest potential. But it may also be that the therapy has to be extended and improved, or that the quality of the trainers should be improved in order to make further progress.