Outcome Measures in Occupational Therapy

The Perceive: Recall: Plan and Perform System (PRPP) is a process-oriented, criterion referenced assessment that employs task analysis methods to determine problems with cognitive information processing component function during routine, task or subtask performance. The PRPP System is for use with adults and children who have difficulty performing daily or episodic tasks.

This article is helpful for relating ICF to OT and the use of ICF when looking at outcomes. "The application of ICF has proved to be helpful to occupational therapists in identifying age-appropriate roles and reflects the person's independence and well-being (44,96). ICF facilitates increased precision in recording and monitoring different health condi- tions (72,97-99), e.g. the field of rehabilitation coun- selling, vocational assessment, and job placement (100,101). It is similar to many OT models in devel- oping tasks and activities for clients and recognizing the interaction between person and environment (80,92,102)."

Asks OT's to look beyond just using standardised assessments for 'results', and to consider the ethical implications of what the results tell us and how we use this information in relation to resource allocation, patient discharge and referral.

Discusses use of COPM as part of a MDT - OT and PT. Indicates that using the COPM enabled the therapists to gain a better understanding of the client's goals and better communication across the team.

Although a small study, draws on AMPS and COPM The aim of this paper was to investigate the effectiveness of client-centred occupational therapy using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). Both the COPM and the AMPS change scores demonstrated statistically significant improvement (p < 0.01) in occupational performance. Significant correlations were found between COPM - Performance and AMPS - Motor skills (r(s) = 0.64, p < 0.05), and COPM - Satisfaction and AMPS - Process skills (r(s) = 0.62, p < 0.05) in a group positive towards client-centred occupational therapy. The COPM was a valuable tool in guiding and measuring the client-centred occupational therapy for children with developmental disabilities.

This article discusses the COPM in relation to the CMOP - the model from which it was designed. It examines issues associated with application of the COPM in targeted clinical and non-clinical situations. The paper suggests considerations required to ensure that the highest quality of information is derived from the COPM in all situations. Although the paper emphasizes the centrality of the client-centred approach, it also demonstrates the flexibility and adaptability of the COPM to different situations, clients, settings and purposes. The paper also discusses cultural considerations when using a client centred approach, particularly in relation to peoples comfort with making such decisions.

I have not read the full article however they talk about 'bottom-up' and 'top-down' cognitive assessments - a point to consider in OT??

This is a brief write up on a CD-Rom program one can get to help with evaluation Outcome Measures. Linda - have you seen this one?

This article looks at the comparison between the GAS and the Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Index (PEDI) and the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). In this study Occupational Therapists, Speech and LAnguage Therapists and Physical Therapists were asked to use the GAS as well as continuing to use established outcome measures (PEDI and GMFM). Over a 6 month period these were reviewed twice and it was found that the three assessments were complimentary in their ability to measure individual change. The GAS helped measure goals that were outside the range of the (standardised) PEDI and GMFM.

This article looks at the comparison of using the COPM and GAS as outcome measures and the study compared the utility of the COPM and GAS as parent gener- ated outcome measures for a paediatric programme for children with cerebral palsy. The COPM and GAS allowed families to generate individualized outcome measures that were directly relevant to the programme purpose, their concerns and priorities for their child. They were also found to be sensitive enough to measure change in the proven treatment group - that is, the COPM and GAS are sensitive enough to change where real change is present. The COPM was found to be more specific in what it measured, however as the GAS had no pre-determined activities, it was able to reach a wider range of activities, and therefore outcomes.

This article looks at the construct and criterion validity of the COPM when being used with parents of children with disabilities, and two different OTs/ It has some interesting points about the 'self-perception' of goal importance and how that can change over time - even within a week. The article looks more at the goal setting side, however the goals set will impact the outcomes.

This articles discusses the use of the COPM and GAS for planning, documenting and measuring progress in client-centered goals in a short term community based rehab. It discusses the effectiveness of using both tools to ensure covering broader goals (COPM) and the GAS for breaking it down into appropriate size goals to show progress.