Primitive Reflex Integration Training for Occupational Therapy Students in India

Document Type (Journals)

Original Research

Abstract

Primitive Reflex Integration (PRI) is an important intervention for occupational therapists for the treatment of neurological, motor, and sensory processing issues in children. The topic is clinically relevant, yet there is scarce formal education available on the subject for occupational therapists in India. A needs assessment survey was developed and implemented to better understand the knowledge related to PRI of 40 postgraduate occupational therapy students in India. The needs assessment showed that most of the students were aware of PRI but were not consistently using PRI techniques to treat retained primitive reflexes. The participants also noted barriers, such as a lack of education about PRI, preventing them from using PRI. Based on the needs assessment findings, we designed an evidence-based, self-paced online PRI training program incorporating the Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) Model that included standardized assessment tools, intervention strategies, and clinical applications to help Indian occupational therapy students use PRI. The training program emphasized knowledge of PRI and implementation of PRI strategies in daily practice. Out of 44 students who completed the training module, 33 students completed a pre-survey, and 32 participants completed the post survey about knowledge and application of PRI. Knowledge scores did not show a significant improvement between the pre- and post-test (estimate = +0.22, SE = 0.46, p = 0.64). Application scores showed a significant improvement (estimate = +0.90, SE = 0.33, p = 0.008). The results imply that a short, efficiently structured online PRI training program can significantly improve the application of PRI.

Biography

Nalini Sripall, OTD, MOTR/L is the founder of Kids N Fun Therapy outpatient pediatric clinic in Westborough, Massachusetts. Her clinical expertise encompasses areas such as Reflex Integration, Emotional Regulation, Sensory Integration, and numerous other key aspects of occupational therapy practice. With her previous background in school-based and outpatient occupational therapy clinics in the US, she worked as a pediatric occupational therapist at Boston Children's Hospital, where she gained extensive knowledge in these areas.

Samuel Durairaj, MPT is a doctoral candidate in the Rehabilitation Science program at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas, USA. He is involved in driving-related research in persons with neurodegenerative disorders. His research interests are driving, neurorehabilitation, educational research, and data analytics. He worked as a physical therapist in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, for 13 years, during which he gained extensive clinical expertise in neurodegenerative disorders, as well as in teaching, research, and administration.

Arun Kumar. M, M.O.T(Paed), FC-ECLD(Ph.D) is the Principal and professor in Saveetha Occupational Therapy College (SCOT) in Chennai, India. He has 15 years of professional experience in the Clinical & Teaching domain in Occupational Therapy. He has presented papers on various topics at workshops and conferences conducted by several colleges, special schools, and trusts, and has chaired many CME and conferences in India. He has published papers and journals on topics related to occupational therapy in the areas of pediatrics, neurorehabilitation, and other impactful occupational therapy domains.

Suja Angelin Chandrasekaran, OTD, MOTR/L (corresponding author) is an occupational therapist at a school-based setting in Missouri. She has presented and published peer-reviewed research on caregiver coaching interventions among caregivers of children with Autism and other disabilities in various contexts, including outpatient hospitals, school-based, community-based rehabilitation programs, and Neonatology. She serves as a reviewer for several peer-reviewed occupational therapy journals, reviewing varied research methodologies. She is a mentor to one of the programs in India, guiding clinical and research aspects of the program.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Recommended Citation

Sripall, N., Durairaj, S. K., Kumar, A., & Chandrasekaran, S. A. (2026). Primitive Reflex Integration Training for Occupational Therapy Students in India. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 10 (3). Retrieved from https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol10/iss3/8