Implementing AMPS in The Curriculum for Occupational Therapy Students

Background: Increased efficiency and documentation are challenges for occupational therapists (OT). Therefore, the graduating OT need tools with which to manage the requirements for evaluation of occupational performance. ... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
Increased efficiency and documentation are challenges for occupational therapists (OT). Therefore, the graduating OT need tools with which to manage the requirements for evaluation of occupational performance.

Educational Philosophy or theory:
Implementing the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) as part of evidence based curriculum.

Pedagogy / educational approach(es) used:
In the first year the OT students work with the theme Reablement (Rehabilitation of daily living). They use the Occupational Therapy Intervention Process Model (OTIPM) to structure their work. The students carry out an interview with an elderly adult and follow an Activity of Daily Living (ADL) task. AMPS is used during informal, non-standardised performance analyses. After this, the students consider strategies for intervention.
Their learning is a required part of the conditions for following an ordinary AMPS course and calibrate as AMPS tester in the last part of their second year.

Evaluation:
In the course, the students train their skills for structuring a workflow and for observing ADL ability. They begin to acquire a basic language with which to describe and document the quality of a person’s occupational performance.

Application to Education and /or practise:
Implementing OTIPM and AMPS in the curriculum for OT students will bolster Occupational Therapy’s core and give the students the knowledge and skills to observe and document occupational performance.


References
 Fisher A.G. (2012) OTIPM, En model for planlægning og implementering af top-til-bund, klientcentreret og aktivitetsbaseret interventioner, ERGO/Munksgaard

Financial support by Department of Occupational Therapy, University College Lillebaelt, DK