Question

A patient with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease has been referred to OT for an evaluation. The OT feels that it is important to use an assessment that will give consistent scores over time. What information about the assessment will tell the OT if a particular test will do this?

Answer 1

An OT should look for an assessment with high reliability to monitor a Parkinson's patient's progression consistently. The MMPI-2-RF study exemplifies how reliability scales ensure consistent scores over time, given similar test conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The occupational therapist (OT) seeking an assessment tool for a Parkinson's patient should look for one that demonstrates high reliability. Reliability refers to the consistency of an assessment's scores over time. For example, reliability scales ensure the same results under consistent conditions, which is essential when monitoring a patient's progression over time.

In the case of the MMPI-2-RF, a study showed that it exhibited reliability as similar scores were obtained when the test was taken several years apart. This indicates consistency and suggests that changes in scores can more reliably be attributed to changes in the patient's condition rather than variability in the test itself.