The utility of goal attainment scaling in evaluating a structured water dance intervention for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities

Abstract

BACKGROUND : Adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) have problems to be actively involved in essential life activities that affect their health. The aim of this study was to explore the utility of goal attainment scaling (GAS) in evaluating an intervention for adults with PIMD, and to describe how the GAS goals were set according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains of body function as well as activity and participation. METHOD : As part of an aquatic intervention (Structured water dance), 28 adults with PIMD received GAS goals which were adapted to their individual needs and which the intervention could affect. RESULT : Twenty of the goals were formulated within the ICF Activity/Participation domain and eight within the Body Functions domains. On average, participants improved by 1.25 levels on the five-level GAS scales. CONCLUSION : GAS can be a useful tool for setting and evaluating individualized and meaningful goals, in body functions as well as in activity and participation, related to a healthpromoting activity for adults with PIMD.