Therapist and Patient Perceptions of the Occupational Therapy Goal-Setting Process

Abstract

Recent literature in occupational therapy and nursing indicates that collaborative goal setting can lead to increased patient satisfaction, shorter inpatient stays, and better goal attainment (Neis-tadt, 1995). Therapist and patient collaboration on goal formulation, beliefs of their relevance, and how they are to be accomplished, are essential for better treatment outcomes. Questionnaires from a matched convenience sample of 10 registered occupational therapists and 10 occupational therapy patients were analyzed to determine if, and when, differences occurred in perceptions about the collaborative nature of the goal-setting process. The findings from this pilot study indicated that therapists were uniformly positive about the collaboration that occurred during goal setting, but their patients were more neutral. Patients were most positive about the process of collaboration, but less so about the substance of that collaboration. Perceptions about the collaborative nature of the goal-setting process were significantly discrepant for several topics including discussion of patient interests, purpose of activities chosen, and availability of assistance after discharge, with patients being significantly less positive about the collaboration.

Key Words:

• Goal setting
• collaboration
• treatment planning

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Erin McAndrew

Jennifer R. Johnson was a graduate student in the School of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX at the time of this study. She is currently employed as an Occupational Therapist at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, LA

Debra Stewart is Lecturer, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University and staff therapist at Erinoak Centre, Missis-sauga, Ontario. She is currently completing a MSc (Design, Measurement and Evaluation) at McMaster University.

Ronald L. Mace (deceased, June 29, 1998) was also affiliated with The Center for Universal Design, School of Design, North Carolina University.

Lois Rosage and Geraldine Shaw are Occupational Therapist Consultants who provide evaluations for the housing programs at the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging.