Training in client-centeredness enhances occupational therapist documentation on goal setting and client participation in goal setting in the medical records of people with stroke

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare client-centeredness as it was documented by the occupational therapists in the units randomized to the intervention clusters with documentation by occupational therapists in the control clusters. Design: Comparison of medical records. Setting: The study is conducted in a context of a randomized controlled trial in Sweden, with 16 post-stroke rehabilitation units cluster randomized to intervention or control group. Subjects: Occupational therapist documentation in medical records of 279 clients with stroke. Main measures: The medical records were reviewed for their level of client-centeredness using a protocol developed from the Stewart et al model. The occupational therapists in the intervention groups participated in a workshop training to enhance their client-centeredness. Results: Occupational therapists with training in client-centeredness documented significantly more on goal setting (OR = 4.1; 95% CI, 1.87-8.81), on client participation in goal setting (OR = 11.34; 95% CI, 5.97-21.57), on how the goals could be reached (OR = 2.8; 95% CI, 1.7-4.62), on client participation in how goals could be reached (OR = 4.56; 95% CI, 2.73-7.64), on the follow-up on goals (OR = 5.77; 95% CI, 2.78-11-98) and on client participation in follow-up on goals (OR = 7.44, 95% CI, 4.33-12.8). This association remained after adjustment for healthcare setting, client socio-demographic variables, and stroke severity. Conclusion: Documentation of goal setting and client participation in goal setting can be influenced by training.