Evaluating ADL measures from an occupational therapy perspective.
BACKGROUND
Measures reflecting occupational therapy's conceptualization of occupational performance support the profession's contribution to evidence-based practice and fiscal accountability.


OBJECTIVE
This study compared measures of performance-based activities of daily living (ADL) with principles of occupational therapy practice and intended outcomes.


METHODS
Using an action research study design, occupational therapists and researchers (N= 13) systematically clarified the clinical problem, identified occupational therapy principles inherent to the assessment of daily living activity via nominal group technique; defined the key principles as constructs; and reframed these constructs as a questionnaire against which 18 published standardized ADL measures were evaluated.


RESULTS
Participants identified six measures as most congruent with principles of occupational therapy practice: ADL Profile, Assessment of Motor and Process Skills, Functional Performance Measure, Rivermead ADL Assessment, Edmans ADL Index, and Melville-Nelson Self-Care Assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings guide occupational therapists' search and use of performance-based ADL measures that demonstrate the profession's distinct health care contribution.
Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Sheryl.Klein@capitalhealth.ca
Sheryl
S
Klein
Ingrid
I
Barlow
Vivien
V
Hollis
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration