Standardised Tests: An Appropriate Way to Measure the Outcome of Paediatric Occupational Therapy?

Abstract

The advent of clinical governance has refocused clinicians on the need to use evidence-based practice, one aspect of which is the identification and measurement of intervention outcomes. Paediatric occupational therapists have traditionally used a variety of standardised tests in their practice and these are often cited as the means by which treatment outcomes are evaluated. However, the tests most frequently used may not be the most appropriate measures of the outcome of occupational therapy. This paper explores some of the issues surrounding outcome measurement in the field of paediatrics and highlights aspects of outcome measurement requiring further clinical and research consideration. It is suggested that there is a need to develop a conceptual framework for outcome evaluation which is both consistent with the occupational focus of practice and uses outcome tools that are objective, useful and appropriate.