Consistency between two subjective assessments of activities of daily living: Patient- and occupational therapist-reported judgments.

Patients were convenience sampled inpatients, so the results may not apply to all stroke patients. Only subacute stroke patients with MMSE score 20 or more and no communication problems were included, so the results may not apply to patients with lower MMSE scores or communication problems. Twelve patients did not complete follow-up, so the discharge findings are based on those who completed both assessments. The OTs had at least 5 years of stroke experience and had treated the patient for at least one week, so the findings may not apply to less experienced OTs or OTs with less familiarity with the patient. The study compared assessments rather than testing an intervention, so it cannot show that communication improves outcomes.

Authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The work was supported by Chung Shan Medical University and Chi Mei Medical Center.

Do not conclude that patient and OT ADL ratings are interchangeable. Their ability ratings were only moderately related, and their change ratings were weakly related, so they can support different treatment goals.