[Psychometric analyses of occupational therapy assessment]

In German-speaking countries standardised assessments measuring the specific aspects of occupational therapy in adults are missing. The Occupational Therapy Assessment (OTA) was introduced by the authors during 2000 in the context of a field study regarding acceptance, practicability and the influence of the instrument on process quality. The purpose of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the OTA.

: OTA was applied by 76 occupational therapists from 44 institutions to 833 consecutive patients. Additionally, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was applied. Patients completed established German instruments measuring functional capacity (Funktionsfragebogen Hannover - polyartikuläre Erkrankungen; FFbH-P), body complaints (Beschwerdenliste; BL) and general health (Indikatoren des Reha-Status; IRES). 59 randomly selected patients were assessed independently by two therapists. 42 randomly selected patients were assesses twice for test-retest reliability.

: For the domains 'activities of physical self-supply', 'activities of independent living', and the three domains 'consequences of sensomotor/neuropsychological/psychosocial functioning on everyday life' internal consistency (Cronbach alpha: 0.90-0.97), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.93-0.99) and interrater reliability (kappa: 0.72-0.82) were high. Overall, the concurrent validity of the domains with corresponding scales or subscales of the MMSE, FFbH-P and IRES is satisfactory. In addition, the domains are sensitive to change.

: The OTA is a standardised assessment measuring the specific aspects of occupational therapy reliably, valid, sensitive to change and sufficiently comprehensive.