Exploring Patient Outcomes After Participation in an Inpatient Occupation-Based Group: A Longitudinal Observational Cohort Study.

Abstract

Occupation-based interventions are used during inpatient rehabilitation, and group models may enhance intervention delivery. However, little is known about the impact of occupation-based groups on patient outcomes. To examine the effect of an occupation-based group on patient outcome measures of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) skills over time and explore demographic differences among patients. Longitudinal observational cohort study with four time points: preintervention, postintervention, 30-day follow-up, and 90-day follow-up. Tertiary hospital general rehabilitation ward. Inpatient adults age 18 or older recruited using consecutive sampling from those referred to the group. The LifeSkills group, which focused on repetitive practice of meaningful occupation-based activities. Demographic data were obtained, and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Goal Attainment Scaling, Lawton IADL scale, and a self-efficacy scale were administered at each data point. Thirty people (21 women, 9 men; ages 35-91 yr) participated, with 5 lost to follow-up. A statistically significant increase in scores postintervention occurred on all measures and was also seen at 90-day follow-up for COPM occupational performance, satisfaction, and self-efficacy scores. Lawton IADL scale scores at follow-up were lower than those at preintervention and statistically significant. No significant differences were found for age and diagnosis. Positive patient outcomes of goal achievement, occupational performance, satisfaction, and self-efficacy were seen at discharge, with evidence of sustainability over time. This could be a resource alternative for addressing skill retraining because people with different diagnoses and in different age groups benefited equally. What This Article Adds: Occupation-based group programs have encouraging application in general inpatient rehabilitation for addressing patient outcomes.