ENVIRONMENT EFFECT ON FUNCTIONAL TASK-PERFORMANCE IN ADULTS WITH ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURIES - USE OF THE ASSESSMENT OF MOTOR AND PROCESS SKILLS

Objective: To examine household task performance in both familiar (hom e) and unfamiliar (clinic) environments in adults with acquired brain injuries. Design: The research performed was a comparison study examin ing the effect of the environment on functional task performance. Indi viduals were evaluated using the Assessment of Motor and Process Skill s both in their homes and in an unfamiliar clinic setting. Participant s: Twenty individuals with acquired brain injuries living in the commu nity. Main Outcome Measures: The Assessment of Motor and Process Skill s, an observational; standardized, occupational therapy assessment too l, was used to evaluate household task performance. Results: Paired on e-tailed t tests indicated a significant difference between home and c linic performance measures in process ability (t = -4.28, p = .00), bu t no significant difference in motor ability performance measures (t = -1.84, p = .410). Scatter plot analyses showed that performance scorn s of 6 of the 20 subjects differed in a clinically meaningful way, and that instrumental activities of daily living motor performance stores for 3 of the 20 differed in a clinically meaningful way. Conclusions: Individuals with acquired brain injuries may be influenced by their e nvironment when performing household tasks, although further study is necessary to determine the extent of the environmental effect. (C) 199 8 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.