The Model of Human Occupation-Based Intervention for Patients with Stroke: A Randomised Trial

Abstract

Objective/Background This study examined a group of people with cerebrovascular accidents who were in a chronic phase in a Health Care Facility for the Elderly in Japan. The model of human occupation (MOHO)-driven occupational therapy (OT) intervention was compared with interventions that were based on other theories, for example, biomechanical and neurodevelopmental frames of reference. Methods A total of 36 service users were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (who received MOHO-based OT) or a control group (who received “usual OT”). All the service users were assessed using the Activities of Daily Living (ADL), WHO Quality of Life 26 (QOL-26), MOS-36-Item Short Form Health (SF-36) before and after a 12-week OT intervention. Results Based on the results of our study, we found that the experimental group significantly improved in ADL and QOL scores following the MOHO-based OT intervention; in fact, these scores were higher (p < .05) than before the practice. The control group, however, only improved on ADL scores following OT intervention. In addition, when compared with the control group after the interventions, the experimental group had significantly improved (p < .05) scores in the following: ADL, all five domains of QOL-26, and physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health perception, social functioning of SF-36. Conclusion The MOHO-based intervention was more effective in the improvement of ADL and QOL than non-MOHO-based intervention.