Initial Development of the Activity Card Sort-Advancing Inclusive Participation from a Homeless Population Perspective.
Quinn P Tyminski, Ronald R Drummond, Claire F Heisey and 4 others
PMID 32694959WHAT IT FOUND
Participants found the new card-sorting tool useful for discussing sensitive, nonsanctioned occupations like substance use.
It helped identify activities people had given up due to homelessness, offering therapists a structured way to explore these topics without assuming they are irrelevant.
Key findings
01The tool was developed to include nonsanctioned occupations often omitted from standard assessments, such as smoking or engaging with the legal system.
02In a small pilot, both homeless and nonhomeless participants found the tool enjoyable and useful for identifying future goals.
03Homeless participants reported decreased participation in social and home management domains compared to nonhomeless participants, despite desiring to engage in them.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study used a very small convenience sample of 30 people, so the results are not generalizable. The initial content experts were all healthcare providers, which may have introduced bias in what occupations were included. The pilot focused on a specific subpopulation of mostly adult males in one shelter, limiting diversity. The tool is in an early stage of development; robust validity and reliability data are not yet available.
Declared interests
The authors state the university's internal review board approved the study. No specific financial conflicts of interest are detailed in the text, though the ACS originator gave permission for the derivative version.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat this as a validated diagnostic instrument. The study is a preliminary feasibility check with 30 participants, not a proof that the tool accurately measures occupational participation in the wider homeless population.