Face/Content Validity of the Structured Observational Test of Function
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Face and content validity of the Structured Observational Test of Function (SOTOF) from the perspective of patients with a neurological diagnosis and a stroke rehabilitation multi disciplinary team.
IRAS ID
238134
Contact name
Eden Marrison
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
York St John University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The SOTOF was developed for older adults (age 60 years +) with neurological diagnoses. It is a standardised test that provides a detailed description of functional ability in personal activities of daily living and associated neuropsychological problems. SOTOF offers a structure to observe and evaluate performance of four activities of daily living (eating, washing, drinking and dressing) and the results provide information related to underlying perceptual, cognitive, sensory and movement abilities. The SOTOF provides a profile of the person’s skills and problems following a neurological diagnosis eg stroke, head injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis. It can be used to signpost the need for further assessment and help inform goal setting for rehabilitation and treatment planning. When the SOTOF was developed in the 1990s, research showed it had good content and face validity, reliability and clinical utility. A second edition of the SOTOF has included a new scoring system and a formalised protocol of prompts and cues. Owing to these new additions this study seeks to contribute to the evidence base for the 2nd edition and explore the perceptions and experiences of patients with neurological diagnoses who undertake the test (this is called "Face validity"). The study will also evaluate the usefulness of the findings of the SOTOF included in patients' medical notes for informing the treatment plans of members of a stroke service multi-disciplinary team. Patients will undertake the SOTOF with an occupational therapist in an inpatient stroke rehabilitation setting. They will then be interviewed by a research assistant to ask them what they thought the purpose of the test was and their experience of doing the SOTOF. The opinions and practice of the multi-disciplinary team(including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and rehabilitation assistants)will be gained through a focus group and an online survey.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0113
Date of REC Opinion
28 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion