Measuring Client-Centered Outcomes in an Occupational Therapy Student Teaching Clinic Using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure.

IMPORTANCE

Student teaching clinics (STCs) are an increasingly popular means of providing clinical learning opportunities to health profession students. Although research exists on the learning outcomes of students participating in STCs, little research exists on the outcomes of clients participating in STCs.

OBJECTIVE

To examine client-perceived outcomes at a university-based occupational therapy STC in the Pacific Northwest.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants included all clients (pediatric and adult) attending the STC during spring 2016. Seventy client charts were reviewed, and 56 charts (80%) met the study inclusion criteria.

INTERVENTION

Intervention included 12 wk of student-led occupational therapy that was client centered and occupation based.

OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Client perceptions of performance and satisfaction in self-identified valued occupations were measured using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) before and after intervention.

RESULTS

Clients demonstrated statistically significant increases in both COPM Performance and Satisfaction scores as well as clinically significant improvement in Satisfaction scores.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Clients reported improvements in performance and satisfaction in valued occupations after attending an STC. The COPM has potential to be used as a client-reported outcome measure for occupational therapy services in STCs, across diagnoses and ages. Areas for future research and clinical implications are discussed.

WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS

This study demonstrates that STCs have the potential to provide positive outcomes for clients as well as student therapists. It provides preliminary support for using the COPM to assess client outcomes in STCs.