Involving Clients in Programme Evaluation and Research: A New Methodology for Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Eliciting client satisfaction with services has become common in mental health settings and in the planning of service delivery systems. It is also compatible with the client-centred practice of occupational therapy. The traditional approach to collecting satisfaction information involves staff interviewing clients using questionnaires developed by staff. However, there is often a lack of variability in responses and the vast majority of clients report being satisfied. A review of the literature reveals that these favourable reports may be a result of social desirability and of clients being interviewed by treatment providers who have the power to give or withhold care. This paper reviews the relationship between occupational therapy and client involvement, examines the rationale for involving clients in programme evaluation and research, reviews the limitations with traditional methods of collecting information about client satisfaction, and discusses how clients are involved in evaluation and research in today's mental health care setting.

Experience of rehabilitation following spinal cord injury: a meta-synthesis of qualitative findings

“…Indeed, the findings of this meta-synthesis suggest that if financial resources were allocated according to the priorities of rehabilitation clients (in accordance with current edicts [1][2][3][4][5] ) these would be targeted, not at buildings, facilities or equipment but at the recruitment and retention of a substantial number of caring, clientorientated staff.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5] This obliges rehabilitation professionals to seek clients' perspectives through research and to incorporate these perspectives into the planning and delivery of rehabilitation services. Therefore, evaluation of spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation services should be undertaken from the perspectives of current and former users of those services.…”

Body weight-supported treadmill training in chronic incomplete spinal cord injury: a pilot study evaluating functional health status and quality of life

“…18 Activities 1. Self-rated: perceived problematic skills (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)), [19][20][21] and a semistructured interview of subjects and their partners (TE). 2.…”

“…The reliability and validity of the instrument have been demonstrated in several disease populations. 19,21 No information about responsiveness was found in the literature.…”

Empowerment versus power: consumer participation in mental health services

“…There is an increasing body of literature which advocates consumer participation in the planning and delivery of health services in general (for example, Barnes and Wistow, 1992b) and mental health services in particular (for example, Stroul, 1989;Burgess and Burns, 1990;WHO, 1990;Pyke et al, 1991;Woodside, 1991;Everett and Nelson, 1992;Hanson and Rapp, 1992;Clark et al, 1993;Hickey and Kipping, 1998). The importance of a system of service delivery that focuses on consumer needs has also achieved prominence in the Australian healthcare system (NSW Department of Health, 1995), and in the mental health system specifically (Australian Health Ministers, 1992;Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission, 1993).…”