The use of outcome measures and factors affecting use in adult social care occupational therapy services in the UK
Purpose – This study aims to explore which outcome measures are used by occupational therapy staff in adult social care settings in the UK, and the factors affecting use of outcome measures. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative descriptive research design was used, using a cross-sectional st...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Emerald Publishing
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJOT-02-2023-0006/full/pdf |
| _version_ | 1797635768839045120 |
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| author | Sharon Davenport Ann Underhill |
| author_facet | Sharon Davenport Ann Underhill |
| author_sort | Sharon Davenport |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose – This study aims to explore which outcome measures are used by occupational therapy staff in adult social care settings in the UK, and the factors affecting use of outcome measures. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative descriptive research design was used, using a cross-sectional study to explore occupational therapy staff views on the use of outcome measures. A 38-question survey was developed on Microsoft Forms. Recruitment occurred online over a three-week period in 2021 via the social media platform “Twitter”. Results were analysed using Excel using descriptive statistics and qualitative results used thematic analysis. Findings – Participants (n = 20) used a range of outcome measures (13) in adult social care settings in the previous 12 months. Standardised measures were used by half the sample in the previous 12 months. The Therapy Outcome Measure and Barthel Index were in most use. The breadth of adult social care practice and practical factors such as caseload and lack of a meaningful tool were found to be barriers to outcome measure use. Facilitators included service improvement, accountability, use of audit and professional occupational therapy leadership. Research limitations/implications – The overall use of outcome measures can be considered low in this setting, with manager support seen to be key to the use of outcome measures. Further research is needed to investigate nationwide use. Practical implications – Training, time and manager support are key to use of standardised tests and outcome measures in the adult social care settings. The use of occupational performance measures should be considered to demonstrate unique professional impact. Originality/value – This contemporary study reveals use of outcome measures within occupational therapy adult social care services in the UK, which is an under researched and under published area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:25:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-beb3a4e9d5874c1096d8e2aa38763575 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2398-8819 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:25:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Emerald Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-beb3a4e9d5874c1096d8e2aa387635752023-11-06T10:45:20ZengEmerald PublishingIrish Journal of Occupational Therapy2398-88192023-11-01512425110.1108/IJOT-02-2023-0006The use of outcome measures and factors affecting use in adult social care occupational therapy services in the UKSharon Davenport0Ann Underhill1School of Allied Health and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby, UKSchool of Allied Health and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby, UKPurpose – This study aims to explore which outcome measures are used by occupational therapy staff in adult social care settings in the UK, and the factors affecting use of outcome measures. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative descriptive research design was used, using a cross-sectional study to explore occupational therapy staff views on the use of outcome measures. A 38-question survey was developed on Microsoft Forms. Recruitment occurred online over a three-week period in 2021 via the social media platform “Twitter”. Results were analysed using Excel using descriptive statistics and qualitative results used thematic analysis. Findings – Participants (n = 20) used a range of outcome measures (13) in adult social care settings in the previous 12 months. Standardised measures were used by half the sample in the previous 12 months. The Therapy Outcome Measure and Barthel Index were in most use. The breadth of adult social care practice and practical factors such as caseload and lack of a meaningful tool were found to be barriers to outcome measure use. Facilitators included service improvement, accountability, use of audit and professional occupational therapy leadership. Research limitations/implications – The overall use of outcome measures can be considered low in this setting, with manager support seen to be key to the use of outcome measures. Further research is needed to investigate nationwide use. Practical implications – Training, time and manager support are key to use of standardised tests and outcome measures in the adult social care settings. The use of occupational performance measures should be considered to demonstrate unique professional impact. Originality/value – This contemporary study reveals use of outcome measures within occupational therapy adult social care services in the UK, which is an under researched and under published area.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJOT-02-2023-0006/full/pdfAdult social careOccupational therapyOutcomesOutcome measuresLeadership |
| spellingShingle | Sharon Davenport Ann Underhill The use of outcome measures and factors affecting use in adult social care occupational therapy services in the UK Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy Adult social care Occupational therapy Outcomes Outcome measures Leadership |
| title | The use of outcome measures and factors affecting use in adult social care occupational therapy services in the UK |
| title_full | The use of outcome measures and factors affecting use in adult social care occupational therapy services in the UK |
| title_fullStr | The use of outcome measures and factors affecting use in adult social care occupational therapy services in the UK |
| title_full_unstemmed | The use of outcome measures and factors affecting use in adult social care occupational therapy services in the UK |
| title_short | The use of outcome measures and factors affecting use in adult social care occupational therapy services in the UK |
| title_sort | use of outcome measures and factors affecting use in adult social care occupational therapy services in the uk |
| topic | Adult social care Occupational therapy Outcomes Outcome measures Leadership |
| url | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJOT-02-2023-0006/full/pdf |
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