Ms Melissa Ho1, Ms Su Wen Ng1, Ms Alissia Divitcos1, Ms Donna Staples1, Mr Peter Hawkins1
1St Vincent Hospital Melbourne, Australia
Biography:
Melissa Ho is a Senior Physiotherapist at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Community Rehabilitation Services. Melissa completed a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at La Trobe University, and Graduate Diploma in Neurological Rehabilitation at University of Western Australia. Melissa has more than 20 years of experience working in acute, subacute, and community rehabilitation programs working throughout the tertiary public health network in Melbourne, and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queens Square, London. Melissa has a passion for continuous improvement of clinical services, clinician education, and health program evaluation.
Abstract:
The purpose of the presentation:
To outline the outcomes of a Goal Setting education program delivered to multidisciplinary clinicians in an adult Community Rehabilitation service.
The nature and scope of the topic:
Goal Setting is a fundamental component of rehabilitation programs. The World Health Organisation (WHO) International classification of Functioning (ICF), Disability and health encourages clinicians to consider beyond impairment and activity to participation level goals.
Clinicians confirmed difficulty in setting ICF goals via staff survey. Subsequently, a clinician Goal Setting program was implemented that included guideline development, 90 minute group training and weekly newsletter.
The issue or problem under consideration:
A pre and post internal audit of episodes of care were conducted reviewing set goals. Goals were categorised as Participation, Activity, Impairment, or Task goals. Goals were also reviewed against Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-bound (SMART) criteria.
Participation level goals increased (36% to 61%), Activity goals decreased (46% to 31%), Impairment goals decreased (9% to 1%) and Tasks decreased (9% to 7%). SMART Goals decreased (64% to 60%). Clinician confidence to set Participation goals increased (6.8 to 7.9/10), training satisfaction improved (6.1 to 7.9 /10).
The outcome of the conclusion reached:
The goal education program improved utilisation of Participation level goals aligned with WHO ICF recommendations. The program was straightforward to implement, utilising existing clinical resources efficiently. Further work is required to improve SMART goal development and ensure that improved Participation goal setting is maintained.