Occupational therapists at King’s Norton Hospital create outcomes poster

We’re proud to share a significant achievement by two of our dedicated occupational therapists, Kaim Choudhry and Aysha Shafiq, who have developed a comprehensive outcomes poster detailing their work at King’s Norton Hospital, our acute mental health service in Birmingham. This poster showcases the intricate assessment and intervention strategies employed by our occupational therapists to support individuals with mental health conditions.

Occupational therapists in acute mental health settings require a deep understanding of various mental health conditions, crisis intervention techniques, and therapeutic approaches. Their primary role involves assessing patients’ functional abilities, daily living skills, and occupational performance. This thorough assessment allows them to develop individualised care plans tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of each patient.

The Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool (MOHOST)

A cornerstone of their work is the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool (MOHOST), an essential assessment tool that provides a comprehensive understanding of a patient’s occupational performance. MOHOST evaluates various aspects such as motivation, routine, and performance skills, offering valuable insights into a patient’s strengths, challenges, and areas for improvement.

Their key findings from the MOHOST assessments revealed that average functioning tends to be higher in females compared to males. Diagnoses vary between male and female wards, and even when the diagnosis is the same, functioning levels differ.

• Male patients: Common factors impacting functioning include motivation, pattern, and process skills.
• Female patients: Functioning is influenced by motivation, communication processes, and occasionally motor skills. Females generally exhibit more independence in their activities of daily living (ADLs), while males score higher in communication skills.

Specific observations highlighted in the poster include:

• Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) display high scores in patterns of occupation and process skills, likely due to their need for routine and engagement in appealing interests.
• Patients diagnosed with Personality Disorder (PD), or Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) tend to have lower initial scores in all functioning areas, with motor skills often being affected by PD symptoms such as energy breakdown and reduced strength and effort. This is particularly prevalent in female wards.

Positive outcomes

The audit included Kings Norton patients that were admitted and discharged between December 2023 and June 2024. The results showed an overall increase in functioning levels across all three wards from admission to just before discharge. Notably, male patients in Manor ward and Hope ward had lower functioning levels upon admission compared to female patients in Lakeside ward.