Suzanne C. Burns, Marsha Neville; Cognitive Assessment Trends in Home Health Care for Adults With Mild Stroke. Am J Occup Ther 2016;70(2):7002290020. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2016.016543
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© 2021 American Occupational Therapy Association
OBJECTIVE. This article describes current trends in cognitive assessment use for adults with mild stroke by home health practitioners in the United States.
METHOD. Participants were 56 home health occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. A self-administered survey about use of cognitive assessment tools in home health care and influences on their use was conducted.
RESULTS. Ninety-six percent of participants assessed cognition in adults with mild stroke. Nonstandardized assessments were the most widely used method for evaluating cognition in the home health setting. Influences such as specialized training in specific assessments, confidence, and productivity requirements may have affected the practitioners’ cognitive assessment decisions in home health care.
CONCLUSION. Although cognitive assessments are widely used in home health care, occupational therapy practitioners are selecting nonstandardized assessments most frequently to assess cognition.
Occupational therapy practitioners should seek out psychometrically sound cognitive assessments and continuing education opportunities. Those with specialized training are more apt to use valid and reliable instruments.
Guidelines and evidence need to be developed regarding the most appropriate assessments for the home health practice setting.
Ecologically valid assessment use in the home environment offers a promising way to evaluate cognition reflecting real-world performance in context.
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