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Sammanfattning
This article presents the results from a survey about
the use of assessment instruments conducted among
Norwegian occupational therapists in December 2013. The
purpose of the present study, sub-study number 4, was
to explore how occupational therapists reason about their
use of assessments and evaluation instruments. Of the
1286 respondents in the survey, 349 reasoned about their
use of or non-use of assessments. This article is based on
these reported reasons. The motives are analyzed using
thematic analysis. The analyses brought forward four
themes that were consistent in the material: (i) Systematic
use of assessments supports the choice of therapeutic goals
and -interventions, (ii) use of assessments may facilitate
client-centered practice, (iii) use of assessments may
develop occupational therapists’ qualifications in communicating
occupational therapy, (iv) factors that hinder the
use of assessments. Based on the results we conclude that
the professional practice within occupational therapy is
on its way towards a knowledge-based practice. There are
still inhibiting factors in applying assessments in occupational
therapy practice, and evidence-based practice may
be facilitated by strengthening occupational therapists’
knowledge and skills in performing formal assessment.