The Occupational Performance History Interview in community mental health case management: Consumer and occupational therapist perspectives

Abstract

Background/aim: This study aimed to explore the use of the Occupational Performance History Interview from the perspectives of mental health consumers and occupational therapist case managers in community mental health settings. Methods: This qualitative study, based on naturalistic inquiry, involved 10 participants: four occupational therapists who interviewed six mental health consumers, using the Occupational Performance History Interview. All participants participated in follow‐up interviews or in focus groups to gain an understanding of their perspectives of this experience. Transcribed data were analysed using the constant comparative method. Results: Consumer participants valued telling their occupational stories. Occupational therapist participants described the interview as supporting them to be more occupationally focused within their case management roles. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the Occupational Performance History Interview can potentially enhance client‐centred and occupationally focused practice in community mental health case management.

Using the OPHI-II to Support People With Mental Illness in Their Recovery

“…The OPHI-II has been identified in occupational therapy literature as a helpful tool for enhancing understanding of the lived experience and the unique life situations of people with whom occupational therapists work (Apte et al, 2005;Ennals & Fossey, 2007;Finlay, 2004). In this article, we also suggest the OPHI-II is a tool that occupational therapists can use not only to attend to the occupational lives of clients experiencing mental illness, but also to understand and support clients on their recovery journeys.…”

“…Using the OPHI-II to Support People in Recovery 139 In a study of clinical case management (Ennals & Fossey, 2007), clients described staff as frequently not really listening or caring about their broader lives. Clients further reported feeling like they were being assessed and monitored rather than understood.…”

“…They found the OPHI-II was useful in building rapport, inspiring motivation, establishing treatment goals, and understanding the life experiences of people living with AIDS. Ennals and Fossey (2007) interviewed mental health clients and occupational therapists about their experiences of the OPHI-II. They reported that consumers valued the opportunity to talk about issues that really mattered in their lives.…”

Assessing the strengths of mental health consumers: A systematic review.

“…The focus on the broader individual's life experience allows exploration during assessment to go beyond the scope of medicine, disability, and risk (Ennals & Fossey, 2007). For example, professionspecific assessments (e.g.…”

Taking culture seriously: Ethnolinguistic community perspectives on mental health.

“…but the actual patterns of practice are shaped by features of the therapist's employment, which often creates practice constraints. For example, therapists employed by insurance companies may have only a limited number of visits to offer a return-towork program for an individual recovering from major depression; while the therapist with a case management ences with occupation (Ennals & Fossey, 2007 Fisher, 2003;McNulty & Fisher, 2001), and the Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills that focuses on how performance in a range of activity contexts are influenced by underlying social abilities (Forsyth, Lai & Kielhofner, 1999).…”