Measuring Clinical Effectiveness in Mental Health: is the Canadian Occupational Performance an appropriate Measure?

Assessing the impact of occupational therapy with mental health clients within community settings has received relatively little attention in the research literature. Where such studies have been undertaken, there has been inconsistency in the types of instrument used and considerable variation in the sample sizes. In this study, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was used to detect what changes, if any, had occurred on the completion of an occupational therapy programme. This instrument seeks to assist clients in the identification of the problems with occupational performance that cause them most concern. Sixty clients, who were in receipt of occupational therapy, participated in a 4-year study. Data were collected using the COPM at the commencement of their interventions and again on completion of the programme. The findings suggest that this was an appropriate instrument for detecting significant changes in this client group on completion of their occupational therapy. The implications of these findings are discussed, with a view to improving the efficacy of interventions by occupational therapists in mental health care in the future.