Building consensus for a core outcome set for occupational therapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Building consensus for a core outcome set (COS) for occupational therapy in adult social care practice and research
IRAS ID
368080
Contact name
Phillip J Whitehead
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Occupational therapists and their teams address approximately 35–45% of all referrals to adult social care. They work across a wide range of activities, including assessing people’s needs, providing equipment and home adaptations, supporting reablement to improve independence, and assisting people with moving and handling within their homes.
This research focuses on ‘outcomes’, meaning the effects of occupational therapy support for the people who receive it. An ‘outcome measurement instrument’ (OMI) is a tool, such as a questionnaire, used to capture change in a specific outcome. Measuring outcomes is important for understanding what works and how occupational therapists can best support people. However, there is currently no agreement on which outcomes should be consistently measured, or which measurement instruments are most appropriate, in adult social care. A wide range of outcome measures is used across services and research, and some services do not measure outcomes at all. This variation makes it difficult to compare services and studies, limits the ability to synthesise research findings, and may contribute to inefficient use of resources.
The aim of this study is to build consensus on a Core Outcome Set (COS) for occupational therapy in adult social care practice and research, and to identify suitable existing measurement instruments to implement this COS. We will work with people who receive occupational therapy services, family members, and occupational therapists to agree which outcomes should be included and which tools should be used.
The study consists of four Work Packages:
WP1: Guided interviews with up to 40 people using services and family members, and up to 20 occupational therapists, to explore outcomes and constructs that are important and meaningful in practice.
WP2: A scoping review of the literature to identify outcome measurement instruments previously used in research on occupational therapy in adult social care and to synthesise the outcome constructs measured.
WP3: A modified Delphi study with up to 60 occupational therapists and up to 20 people with lived experience to build consensus on which outcomes should be included in the Core Outcome Set.
WP4: Identification, review, and quality appraisal of existing outcome measurement instruments that map onto the agreed Core Outcome Set, including assessment of their feasibility and suitability for practice.
Findings will be disseminated widely through academic publications, conferences, practice briefings, and professional networks to promote greater consistency in outcome measurement in both practice and research.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
26/IEC08/0012
Date of REC Opinion
12 May 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion