Assessement in Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy

negatively with regards to the suitability of Physio Tools programmes in general and felt that this may misguidedly influence any uninformed potential user of the system. I do not agree with Mr Watson’s opinion that only the computer literate would find it easy to use. Our out-patient department is staffed by 18 physiotherapists, assistants and students who span the spectrum of literacy. All have found the programme easy to use with the barest minimum of training. They welcome the opportunity to provide their patients with personalised exercises and protocols which are positively received, and they regularly comment on the clarity of instruction, graphics and speed to produce. The very reasonable price of these programmes (the most expensive is f250) allows many physiotherapists

to buy software from their often very limited budgets! However, I do agree with him that the manuals should be improved and believe this is currently in hand. 1 have just undertaken a survey of all superintendent physiotherapists in Scotland on behalf of the CSP IM&T Development Group to ascertain what software is being used and where. Of the 52 replies (87% return rate) 32 reported using Physio Tools in their services, many with multiple installations. I know there are many more installationsin Scotland not contacted for the purpose of this survey. In fact of all software used by physiotherapists, Physio Tools must be the most commonly found, which surely must say something about its applicability, acceptability and ease of use, especially as it has been available in this country for only three years!

With respect to Mr Watson‘s statement that the software still has a long way to go to be a ‘major’ force in clinical practice, I would like to know which exercise package could be described as such? I hope that publishers such as Churchill Livingstoneand Butterworth Heinemannwill not be too concerned by this review and will continue to produce material in this format for inclusion with other Physio Tools compatible software, as the future for physiotherapy lies in embracing technological advances. I would urge any interested parties to not be put off the programmes but to make their own informed decision by viewing and talking to other users first!

Lesley K Holdsworth MSCP Dundee

book reviews Assessment in Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy by Julia Van Deusen and Denis Brunt. W B Saunders (British distributor Harcourt Brace, Foots Cray High Street, Sidcup, Kent DA74 5HP), 7997 (ISBN 0 7216 4444 9). Illus. 535 pages. f43.

This book begins with signs of great promise. The foreword refers to the need for interdisciplinary assessment and for the professions to develop assessment instruments and expertise to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of our interventions. The preface then develops the collaborative theme by highlighting the opportunities for encouraging the use of joint texts in education and beyond, thus providing a conceptual basis for advanced practice roles. However, I do not think that this ambitious aim has been achieved. The book is divided into five units. The first comprises one chapter, giving an overview of measurement theory. I am not unfamiliar with the concepts of validity and reliability but I found this chapter hard going. The overall content was very relevant but better use of headings, breaking up the text with boxed definitions and some simplification

of the language, would make this information more easily digestible. Unit 2 comprises nine chapters under the umbrella of ‘Component Assessments in the Adult’ and covers such diverse subjects as joint range of motion, body image and electrodiagnosis of the neuromuscular system. The content detail and level of approach are inconsistent within this unit, with some chapters clearly relating assessment to clinical problem solving and others simply reporting methods of measurement and their published reliability and validity studies. Unit 3 is called ‘Assessment of Central Nervous System Function of the Adult’ and comprises two chapters; one focused on motor control and the other on sensory processing. Within this unit the main published instruments measuring recovery after stroke are described, along with methods of

I

Physiotherapy, February 1998, vol84, no 2

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measuring spasticity and other sequelae of the upper motor neurone syndrome. Clinical approaches t o sensory assessment and published tests of sensory processing and aspects of cognition are also described. Within the sensory processing section the author gives recommendations regarding clinical utility. Unit 4 describes measures designed for use with specific age groups: neonates, children and elders. Unit 5, which has five chapters, covers activities of daily living, including gait analysis and work activities. This large volume does contain a great deal of information about the status of measurement in many aspects of occupational therapy and physical therapy practice in the USA. Much of the information is relevant to practice here in the UK. However, the presentation of material is inconsistent in style, level and detail and it is therefore unclear what grouping(s)would best benefit from having this book as a reference resource.

Maggie Campbell GradDipPhys MCSP Cert Health Care Research