I consider assessments absolutely worthless unless they point directly to EXACT STROKE REHAB PROTOCOLS THAT DELIVER RECOVERY!
Occupational therapists’ assessment and reporting of functional cognition in stroke care
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate how functional cognition of people post-stroke is evaluated and reported by occupational therapists in Ireland. Functional cognition refers to the use and integration of cognitive skills for daily function.
Methods
This study used a qualitative design. Six focus groups and one individual interview were conducted with 20 occupational therapists purposively sampled for variation across different clinical grades. Data were analysed according to the Braun and Clark thematic analysis framework.
Results
Participants felt that assessment of functional cognition was an integral feature of occupational therapy assessment in stroke care but acknowledged that terminology used by occupational therapists for functional cognition was inconsistent. Non-standardised observational assessment was routinely used by participants. Challenges were reported with respect to written documentation of non-standardised observations. Participants reported that use of standardised cognitive assessments required considered clinical reasoning before administration. Standardised performance-based assessments were not widely implemented by participants.
Conclusion
Occupational therapists in Ireland reported a multi-component assessment process to evaluate functional cognition post-stroke. Establishing practice guidelines for the assessment of functional cognition may be of benefit to occupational therapists working in stroke care. Further research is needed to quantify procedures in this assessment process to account for variation in practice.
IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION
The assessment of functional cognition in stroke rehabilitation is integral to occupational therapy practice.(I totally disagree, nothing about this gets survivors recovered; the only goal in stroke!)
Occupational therapists described the assessment of functional cognition as a multi-component assessment drawing from three main modalities: standardised cognitive assessments; non-standardised observations; and performance-based assessments.
Professional education in, and practice guidelines, for the assessment and reporting of functional cognition could be beneficial for occupational therapists in stroke care to streamline their assessment and reporting of functional cognition.
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