Issues in Assessment of Psychosocial Components of Function

Abstract

For occupational therapy to provide a holistic view of meaningful activity, we must understand the relationship between physical, psychological, and social variables, especially as they affect our psychosocial evaluations and treatment. Existing definitions of psychosocial variables are unclear and, for occupational therapy practice, must be linked to activity and occupational performance. Occupational therapists need to become more educated about the uses and limitations of psychosocial instruments and to develop new instruments that address the central tenets of occupational therapy by focusing on whether or not a person is able to do what is necessary and fulfilling. Further, understanding what is meant by meaningful activity and what people need to accomplish it will advance our effectiveness in occupational therapy assessment and practice.

Enhancing Occupational Performance Through an Understanding of Perceived Self-Efficacy

“…In the March 1993 issue of the American]oumal of Occupational Tberapy, professional leaders discussed the needs of the profession with respect to assessment. Authors cited the need to measure client perception of performance (Law, 1993), the need to identify the psychological factors that contribute to performance deficits and strengths- (Bonder, 1993), and the need to develop means of remediating these psychological factors once identified (Bonder, 1993). Trombly stated that the overall goal of occupational therapy is to "enable the client to gain a sense of efficacy" (1993, p. 254).…”

A meditation on the use of hands

“…Occupational therapy's dualism is manifest in the way in which we continue to divide our practice, along with medicine, into the areas of mental and physical health (10). Mental health practitioners persist in viewing patient problems as only emotion or cognition gone awry, while their counterparts in the physical arena emphasize the neurological and biomechanical body, only uncomfortably and intermittently addressing the subjective experience of a physical disability (11,12).…”

Supporting Everyday Activities in Dementia

“…At present, very little research has been devoted to that issue (Cotrell & Schultz, 1993). Second, such interventions call for alternative outcome measures, assessing functionality and psychosocial components rather than individual performance (Bonder, 1993).…”