Administration of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure: effect on practice.
BACKGROUND
The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) is recommended as a systematic approach to identify issues and determine client progress in occupational therapy, yet little empirical evidence is available that supports this practice.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if COPM administration was associated with changes in eight dimensions of occupational therapy practice.


METHODS
Twenty-four occupational therapists on eight geriatric rehabilitation sites completed a before-and-after study with a repeated baseline. The eight practice dimensions were assessed after three months of usual care (no COPM use) and after three months of intervention (COPM use) using chart stimulated recall (CSR) interviews and chart audit.


RESULTS
Mean practice scores for CSR interviews indicated a statistically significant practice improvement (p < .0001) across the eight dimensions, including knowledge of client perspective, clinical decision making, clinician ability to articulate outcomes, and documentation. Chart audit indicated that COPM use resulted in identifying more occupation-focused issues.


CONCLUSIONS
COPM administration could improve occupational therapy practice.
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Civic Campus, 1053 Carling, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4E9. hcolquhoun@ohri.ca
Heather L
HL
Colquhoun
Lori J
LJ
Letts
Mary C
MC
Law
Joy C
JC
MacDermid
Cheryl A
CA
Missiuna
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D057566:Self Report