Clinical Utility of the Combined Use of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and Goal Attainment Scaling

OBJECTIVE. We investigated the clinical utility of combined use of Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) to plan goals and measure progress in a community rehabilitation setting. METHOD. Fourteen participants with traumatic brain injury completed an outpatient, goal-directed 12-wk occupational therapy program; 53 goals were generated. Performance and satisfaction self-ratings and GAS ratings were collected before and after intervention. Self-awareness, motivation to change, and perceived client-centeredness measures were taken before intervention. RESULTS. Sensitivity to change was demonstrated by significant improvements after intervention for total performance self-ratings on the COPM and GAS T scores. CONCLUSION. Combined use of these tools, although time consuming, resulted in goals that were perceived almost unanimously as client centered, despite most participants' having moderate or severe impairment in self-awareness. The process also enabled subjective and objective demonstration of goal achievement, thereby supporting the clinical utility and treatment validity of the combined use of these tools.