Reliability of a Homemaking Assessment for use in OT Practice

Background: In response to needs of third party payers, a homemaking assessment was developed to provide a fair, objective, and consistent approach to quantifying the assistance an individual requires with housekeeping tasks... [ view full abstract ]

Background: In response to needs of third party payers, a homemaking assessment was developed to provide a fair, objective, and consistent approach to quantifying the assistance an individual requires with housekeeping tasks as a result of accident or disability. While this measure has been used for more than a decade in an occupational therapy private practice, there has been no systematic evaluation of its validity and reliability. The study will specifically evaluate convergent validity and interrater reliability of the homemaking assessment for use with community-dwelling adults.
Methods: This study uses a prospective design with up to 50 client cases to test interrater reliability and convergent validity. Data will be analyzed and reported using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s r correlation coefficient, and Cohen’s kappa coefficient.
Results: This study will demonstrate the validity and reliability of a homemaking assessment. Results will guide the development of materials to support education and dissemination of the assessment.
Conclusions: Evidence will be provided for the psychometric integrity of a homemaking assessment that has been accepted among clinicians and stakeholders as providing credible support for funding decisions related to housekeeping services.
Application to Practice: This study provides the foundation for broader use of this assessment by occupational therapists in community practice. By quantifying an individual’s ability to complete housekeeping tasks, the assessment can be used both for objectively determining the level of support an individual requires, as well as evaluating change over time.