Professor Iona Novak Answers More Questions

Question: What outcome measures can be used to analyze activity limitation, participation restrictions and contextual factors in developing countries? 

Iona's Answer: There are multiple outcome measures available to measure activity limitation and participation, but only some have been translated into languages other than English and cross-culturally validated.

“The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) is a client-centred outcome measure for individuals to identify and prioritize everyday issues that restrict their participation in everyday living. This measure focuses on occupational performance in all areas of life, including self-care, leisure and productivity. This outcome measure is used with persons of all ages…..The COPM is used in more than 40 countries around the world. It is available in 36 languages (COPM 2021).”

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure is a good choice of measure in most contexts, because: (i) it is a semi-structured interview, so you can use the client’s first language and tailor the conversation to the family’s unique context and understanding; (ii) the client sets the goals for intervention and therefore by virtue the measurement will be meaningful and relevant to the client and their context; and (iii) the tool is low-cost with no training requirements. You can find more information here: https://www.thecopm.ca/