Use of Assessment Methods in Paediatrics: The Practice of Private Occupational Therapists

Abstract

This study is part of a larger research project investigating the assessment practices of paediatric occupational therapists in independent practice in the United Kingdom. The focus of this paper is the identification of the assessment methods used and the factors influencing respondents' satisfaction with them. The research design was a cross-sectional descriptive survey using a postal questionnaire as the data collection tool.Out of 89 questionnaires sent, 66 (74%) were returned and 48 (54%) were deemed usable. The findings demonstrated that the respondents used a combination of assessment methods, with interviewing being used by all of them. The majority of the respondents were satisfied with the methods that they used. The most frequently mentioned factors influencing the respondents' satisfaction level were issues concerning standardised tests and the quality and quantity of the information gathered about the client.The implications for clinical practitioners include the benefits of using a combination of assessment methods and their selection after extensive clinical reasoning. Moreover, the use of interviewing is stressed and its multiple purposes are pointed out.