[Ergotherapy assessment: field study of acceptance, practicability and process quality].

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Comprehensive patient assessment is crucial for effective occupational therapy.
• Existing assessment tools may not fully support diagnostics, planning, communication, and outcome evaluation.
• The Ergotherapeutische Assessment (EA) instrument was developed to address these needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the practicability, acceptance, and impact on process quality of the new Ergotherapeutische Assessment (EA) instrument.
• To assess the EA's effectiveness in supporting occupational therapists in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A field study involving 329 patients and 22 trained occupational therapists.
• Application of the EA instrument with subsequent evaluation of practicability, acceptance, and process quality.
• Analysis of internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and correlation with general therapeutic success.

Main Results:

• Practicability (5.8/10) and acceptance (7.6/10) ratings indicate moderate to good usability.
• Positive effects on process quality: diagnostic effect (7.3/10), definition of therapeutic aims (6.0/10), and communication improvement (6.8/10).
• High internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.72-0.95) and minimal relevant patient changes missed by the instrument (9%).

Conclusions:

• The Ergotherapeutische Assessment (EA) is a practical and accepted instrument for occupational therapists.
• EA demonstrates positive effects on diagnostic accuracy, goal setting, and interdisciplinary communication.
• The instrument shows good reliability and validity, supporting its use in occupational therapy practice.