Date Presented 04/22/2023
Routine outcome measurements used in clinical settings can foster evidence-based interventions and show the effectiveness of OT. This study sought to examine the efficacy of OT services for health outcomes, as determined by changes in self-care and mobility function. Results showed positive changes in clients’ self-care and mobility function during a 1-year follow-up.
Primary Author and Speaker: Chia-Wei Fan
Contributing Authors: Milly Rodriguez
PURPOSE: Routine outcome measurements used in clinical settings can foster evidence-based interventions and show the effectiveness of occupational therapy. This study sought to examine the efficacy of occupational therapy services for health outcomes, as determined by changes in self-care and mobility function.
DESIGN: The study was retrospective and longitudinal in design. Data related to functional performance levels were obtained from medical records at four time points over one year.
METHOD: The study took place at a pro-bono, faculty-led clinic. Ninety-one client charts were reviewed, 64 (70%) met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled. Interventions were provided by registered occupational therapists and entry-level occupational therapy students under supervision. Self-care and mobility function were measured using modified GG0130 and GG0170 items; three additional functioning items were added. SF-36v2® was used to evaluate clients’ quality of life at intake. Friedman’s analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine whether the clients’ performance improved over time. Further, the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test was used to evaluate the pairwise comparisons across four time points for the self-care, mobility, and additional functioning composite scores and for each item individually.
RESULTS: Self-care and mobility composite scores significantly improved throughout the 1-year follow-up. Additional functional composite significantly improved during the first six months. Furthermore, clients’ physical function subdomain of the SF-36v2® was significantly related to their self-care, mobility, and additional functional items.
CONCLUSION: Faculty-led clinics can impact occupational performance for clients in need of occupational therapy services, particularly for areas of self-care and mobility, which have previously been identified as top priorities for clients.
IMPACT STATEMENT: The faculty-led clinic provided underserved and uninsured communities with effective client-centered occupational therapy services. Results showed positive changes in clients’ self-care and mobility function during a 1-year follow-up.
References
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2018). Self-Care and Mobility Section GG Items. https://www.aota.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/Practice/Manage/Documentation/Self-Care-Mobility-Section-GG-Items-Assessment-Template.pdf
Doherty, M., Dyer, M., Wilson, E., & Russell-Thomas, D. (2020). Rehabilitation outcomes of an occupational therapy student-run free clinic for individuals with acquired brain injury. Journal of Allied Health, 49(1), 60–66.
Li, C., Kuo, Y., & Ottenbacher, K. (2021). Using GG items to characterize self-care and mobility performance in stroke. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(Suppl. 2). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.75S2-RP224
Zylstra, S. E., & Doyle, S. (2020). Measuring client-centered outcomes in an occupational therapy student teaching clinic using the Canadian occupational performance measure. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(4), Article 7404205070. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.034892
