Use of Measuring Tools in Practice Development Projects: A Critical Perspective.
Stinne Glasdam, Tobba Therkildsen Sudmann
PMID 33678041WHAT IT FOUND
Standardised assessments often categorise older adults by loss rather than capacity, potentially conflicting with person-centred goals.
While these tools justify resource allocation, they may pressure patients to conform to medicalised norms of 'active ageing', ignoring individual values and social context.
Key findings
01Assessments like Barthel and SFT categorise older adults by dependency or deviation from 'normal' biological age, focusing on loss rather than individual wants or social context.
02Measurement results can act as social technologies that motivate some patients but pressure others to conform to predefined health norms, sometimes causing distress.
03Using standardised tools extends professional authority into patients' daily lives and bodies, potentially undermining person-centred care by prioritising administrative categories over individual needs.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The analysis was based on secondary data (written reports) rather than first-hand observation or interviews with patients. Snowball sampling was used, so it is unclear if all relevant projects were captured. The findings are interpreted through a specific theoretical lens (Foucauldian), which may shape the conclusions drawn. The study focuses on Danish municipal homecare, so applicability to other healthcare systems may vary.
Declared interests
The authors received no financial support for the research. Open access funding was provided by Lund University.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this paper as evidence that standardised assessments are ineffective or should be abandoned. The authors argue for critical awareness of their social and political effects, not for their removal from clinical practice.