Occupational Performance Outcome for Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Feasibility of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the feasibility of the Persian version of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) to assess self-reported occupational performance in a group of children with cancer at least one-year post-cancer diagnosis and intervention and to describe the self-reported occupational performance problems of children with cancer. Forty-three children with cancer (mean age 11.59 years; SD 4.94) participated in a cross-sectional study, using a convenience sampling approach. Performance and satisfaction were assessed through a validated Persian version of the COPM and feasibility and ease of administration were also considered. This study showed that feasibility was found to be adequate and this measurement was perceived as easy to understand; completion took from 20 to 51 minutes. Children with cancer prioritized 115 occupations within six of the nine COPM subcategories. Among the prioritized occupations, the highest number was found in self-care 61.7%, followed by productivity (26%), and leisure (12.1%). The mean ratings of performance varied from 3.7 to 8.4. The lowest mean rating was in the subgroup play/school (3.7). For satisfaction, the mean ratings were from 2.6 to 5.2, with functional mobility as the highest and play/school the lowest. The results support the use of the COPM in clinical practice for children with cancer. Based on these findings, children with cancer perceive problems with occupations related to all aspects of daily life. This underlines the need to provide rehabilitation services, especially occupational therapy services for these children.

Keywords:

• Activities of daily living
• cancer survivors
• child
• occupational therapy

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge all children with cancer and parents who agreed to participate in this study. Also, our thanks go to the Arak University of Medical Sciences, for its official support.

Declaration of Interest

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.