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Group treatment: goals, tasks, and economic implications
1Sargent College of Allied Health Professions, Boston University, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Summary
Occupational therapists continue to use group treatment, primarily in schools and community settings. Changes in practice reflect demographic shifts, not necessarily economic factors, highlighting the enduring utility of group therapy.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Therapy
- Health Services Research
Background:
- A 1983 survey assessed occupational therapists' use of group treatment.
- Economic and demographic shifts may have influenced service delivery over a decade.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if economic and demographic changes between 1983 and 1993 affected occupational therapists' use of group treatment.
- To compare current practices with a decade-old benchmark.
Main Methods:
- A 1983 survey was updated and re-administered in 1993 to practicing occupational therapists nationwide.
- Data were collected from 188 respondents (96 using group treatment) on 233 led groups.
Main Results:
- Group occupational therapy was most prevalent in schools and community facilities.
- Therapy focused on activity-oriented, small-group interventions to improve task, communication, socialization, and physical skills.
- Most therapists charged the same rate for individual and group treatment.
Conclusions:
- Group treatment remains a consistent component of occupational therapy practice across diverse settings.
- Demographic changes, such as a decline in mental health settings, influenced practice patterns more than economic factors.
- Evidence of cost-effectiveness may encourage wider adoption of group treatment, especially during resource constraints.