Margaret A Wallen1, Jenny M Ziviani. 1. Occupational Therapy Department, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW 2145 Australia. margaret.wallen@health.nsw.gov.au
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is potential for unintended effects on intervention outcome when using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) in intervention studies. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of blinded parent-proxy ratings of the COPM on outcomes at later endpoints. METHODS: Data were drawn from a randomized trial of 50 children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy aged 19 months to seven years. Outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and six months. Parents of 36 children were randomly allocated to complete six-month COPM proxy ratings blinded or unblinded to previous ratings. A group of 32 parents rated the six-month COPM blinded and then re-rated it after access to previous ratings. FINDINGS: There was no statistically significant difference in ratings between those completing the COPM blinded compared to unblinded. IMPLICATIONS: The COPM should continue to be rated blinded at post-intervention endpoints in the absence of further research to the contrary.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: There is potential for unintended effects on intervention outcome when using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) in intervention studies. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of blinded parent-proxy ratings of the COPM on outcomes at later endpoints. METHODS: Data were drawn from a randomized trial of 50 children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy aged 19 months to seven years. Outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and six months. Parents of 36 children were randomly allocated to complete six-month COPM proxy ratings blinded or unblinded to previous ratings. A group of 32 parents rated the six-month COPM blinded and then re-rated it after access to previous ratings. FINDINGS: There was no statistically significant difference in ratings between those completing the COPM blinded compared to unblinded. IMPLICATIONS: The COPM should continue to be rated blinded at post-intervention endpoints in the absence of further research to the contrary.