Principles of Assessment and Outcome Measurement for Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists : Theory, Skills and Application

This textbook on assessment and outcome measurement is written for both occupational therapy and physiotherapy students and qualified therapists. It begins by defining what is meant by assessment, outcome, evaluation and measurement and discussing the complexity of therapy assessment and measurement, including the challenge of measuring human behaviour and the impact of factors such as task demand and context, including the environment. Methods of data collection (e.g. observation, interview, standardised testing) and sources (e.g. self-report, proxy) for collecting information about clients are then reviewed, and the main purposes of assessment (e.g. descriptive, evaluative, predictive, discriminative) presented. The book then addresses the topics of standardisation, levels of measurement, reliability, validity and clinical utility. There is a chapter describing and applying models for categorizing levels of function to aid assessment and measurement. The concept of clinical reasoning and reflective practice is then explored. Application of principles is supported through detailed case studies and worksheets and the criteria for test critique and guidelines for choosing a particular assessment approach are discussed.Alison Laver-Fawcett, PhD, OT(C)), DipCOT, SROT currently Modernisation Manager, Service Development (Provider Services) and Interim Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy, North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust.

Principles of Assessment for Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists aims to provide a comprehensive text on assessment, evaluation and outcome measurement for occupational therapy and physiotherapy students, therapists, managers and educators.  The purpose of this book is to enable students of occupational therapy and physiotherapy, as well as qualified physiotherapists and occupational therapists, to understand the complex art and science of assessment processes, to be familiar with psychometric terms and able to identify the properties of tests in order to select and confidently implement the use of appropriate standardised tests and outcome measures in their clinical practice and research.

Chapters focus on the following key features:

• The importance of accurate assessment

• Methods of assessment (informal versus standardised, self-report, proxy and observational)

• Purposes of assessment (descriptive, discriminative, predictive and evaluative) and timing assessments (initial, baseline, monitoring and outcome)

• Standardisation, definitions of psychometric terms and administering standardised tests

• Levels of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio)

• How models for describing levels of function can help plan an assessment approach

• Clinical reasoning

• Test critique, analysing your current assessment process and how to implement the optimum assessment approach

The book explores the core principles that underpin effective and efficient therapy assessment processes across a wide range of diagnoses, age groups and practice settings.  Examples of standardised tests along with case vignettes and case histories are used to help the reader apply these principles to their practice. 

"Principles of Assessment and Outcome Measurement for Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists aims to provide a comprehensive text on assessment, evaluation and outcome measurement for occupational therapy and physiotherapy students, therapists, managers and educators. The purpose of this book is to enable students, as well as qualified physiotherapists and occupational therapists, to understand the complex art and science of assessment processes, to be familiar with psychometric terms and able to identify the properties of tests in order to select and confidently implement the use of appropriate standardised tests and outcome measures in their clinical practice and research." "The book explores the core principles that underpin effective and efficient therapy assessment processes across a wide range of diagnoses, age groups and practice settings. Examples of standardised tests along with case vignettes and case histories are used to help the reader apply these principles to their practice."--BOOK JACKET Starting by defining what is meant by assessment and discussing its complexity, including the challenge of measuring human behaviour and the impact of the environment, this book then describes models for categorising levels of function