TREATMENT ACTIVITY PREFERENCES OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS IN ADULT PHYSICAL DYSFUNCTION SETTINGS

Objectives. Research has suggested that using an adaptive approach to provide direct training in occupational behaviors is more effective th an using a remedial approach to retrain component skills. This survey was done to see whether occupational therapy practice in physical dysf unction reflects that research. Method. Surveys from a convenience sam ple of 269 (70.2% response rate) occupational therapy directors in adu lt physical rehabilitation facilities throughout the United States wer e analyzed to determine the relative rankings of remedial and adaptive activities by therapists in those settings. Results. For all faciliti es combined, the four most frequently used types of activities, in ord er of frequency, were self-care, upper extremity exercise, functional mobility, and neuromuscular training. Facilities using multiple formal methods to assess client priorities used functional activities more f requently than other facilities. Conclusion. Occupational therapists i n adult physical dysfunction settings are not routinely providing clie nt training in the full spectrum of occupational behaviors.