Jl. Carlson, EVALUATING PATIENT MOTIVATION IN PHYSICAL-DISABILITIES PRACTICE SETTINGS, The American journal of occupational therapy, 51(5), 1997, pp. 347-351
Objectives. Motivation is an important, factor in and predictor of per
son's recovery from illness, yet no information exists about how occup
ational therapists actually evaluate patient motivation in clinical pr
actice. This article describes a pilot study of how occupational thera
pists in ii physical disabilities settings evaluate patient motivation
. Method. A sample of 150 fieldwork coordinators in physical disabilit
ies treatment centers were surveyed about whether they evaluate patien
t motivation and about the methods they used to evaluate patient motiv
ation. Results. Most respondents reported that they evaluate motivatio
n informally and throughout treatment Respondents evaluate motivation
mostly via general discussion, observation of patient conduct and acti
ons, and information from others. Less than one third discussed intere
sts and goals with patients to evaluate motivation. Despite questionab
le methods of evaluation of motivation, a majority of respondents repo
rted that their evaluation influences their treatment approaches and i
mproves treatment outcomes. Conclusion. Instruction about the definiti
on and evaluation of motivation may increase the frequency of motivati
on evaluation in occupational therapy.