Use of Standardised Assessments and Outcome Measures among a Sample of Irish Occupational Therapists Working with Adults with Physical Disabilities

This study was carried out to explore the current usage of standardised assessments and outcome measures by occupational therapists working with adults with physical disabilities. A survey research design, using a postal questionnaire specifically designed for the study, was employed.

Completed questionnaires were returned by 109 occupational therapists working in a variety of settings, including acute care, community and inpatient rehabilitation. A range of standardised assessments and outcome measures was in use, with an average of four different measures being used by the individual respondents. The most commonly used measures were the Mini Mental State Examination (Folstein et al 1975), Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (Wilson et al 1985), Functional Independence Measure (Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation 1999), Barthel Index (Mahoney and Barthel 1965) and the Chessington Occupational Therapy Neurological Assessment Battery (Tyerman et al 1986). However, the consistency of use tended to be low. The barriers to a more consistent use of standardised assessments and outcome measures included time restraints, the unsuitability of the available measures and a lack of sensitivity of the available measures to capture the effectiveness of occupational therapy.

The findings support those of previous studies exploring this issue among occupational therapists from different areas of practice. The respondents in this study highlighted the need for a multifaceted approach, encompassing educational, managerial and individual responsibility, to address the issue of the usage of standardised assessments and outcome measures among occupational therapists.