Formulating goals in occupational therapy: State of the art in Switzerland

The contemporary occupational therapy literature suggests that different quality criteria exist for setting goals in occupational therapy: a focus on occupation; a link to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF); and adherence to the SMART recommendations, which advises goals to be specific, measurable, agreed, realistic, and timed.

To identify the extent to which Swiss occupational therapists (OTs) adhere to the criteria cited above.

A total of 1,129 goals formulated with the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) collected in 2008.

In slightly more than half the investigated cases at least one goal addressed an aspect of occupation. Nearly two-thirds of the goals related to the ICF component "activity and participation". Nearly 90% of the goals were specific, measurable, and/or realistic.

Goals mirror, to some extent, what is done in everyday practice. Several influences on goal formulations of OTs were identified, including the practice models traditionally used in different specialist fields; the cultural contexts in which OTs were trained; and the legal framework that obliges OTs to formulate their goals in a certain way in order to obtain funding for their services.

Based on these results evidence-based products have been developed (a further education course; written recommendations for practice).