GROUP PROTOCOL

• Seven-Step Format for Activity Groups


  • Introduction
  • Activity
  • Sharing
  • Processing
  • Generalizing
  • Application
  • Summary
• Introduction


  • Names
  • Warm up activity or ice breaker
  • Setting the mood
  • Explaining the purpose
  • Brief outline of the session
• Activity


  • Selection of the activity
  • Timing (how long would it last)
  • Therapeutic Goals
  • Physical and Mental Capacities of Members
  • Knowledge and Skill of Leader
  • Adaptation
  • Giving of Instructions (written, verbal)
• Sharing


  • Sharing of one's work or experience with the group
  • let each of them describe their output or describe their contribution
  • Acknowledge each member's contribution
  • Requires opinion giving, discussion, and group decision-making
• Processing


  • What does it mean
  • Most difficult step to learn
  • How members feel about the experience, the leader, and each other
  • explore the why in each of their statements
  • Positive and negative feelings
  • Recognition of non-verbal behaviors
  • Underlying dynamics
• Generalizing


  • General principles learned
  • Open questions to generate learning issues
  • Disclose the common concerns, sentiments, problems of the group
  • Work among each other to solve these common problems
  • Principles often resemble original goals
  • Point out similarities or areas of agreement/disagreements
• Application


  • Applying learning to everyday life
  • Real life situations
  • Meaning to one's self
  • Application of skills developed by the activity
• Summary


  • Verbally emphasize most important aspects of the group
  • Summarize learning and emotional responses
  • Acknowledge member participation
  • End on a positive note
  • Review the objectives (ask the members if it were attained on their perspective)
• Group Protocol organizes factors for an effective group plan
• Group Protocol can sell the plan to the administrators
• Group Protocol communicates the plan to treatment teams and professionals
• Group Protocol communicates to referral sources
• Group Protocol serves as guideline for funding
• Group Protocol guides sessions
• Considerations for Group Interventions


  • Based on needs assessment
  • Common goals, client priorities
  • Common age or life stage
  • Common disability
  • Clinic population
  • Prevention and wellness
  • Coping with functional problems
• Needs Assessment


  1. Gather background data

  2. Identify participants

  3. Use secondary data

  4. Analyze data
• Selecting a Frame of Reference


  • Health condition
  • Functional areas
  • Function-dysfunction continuum
  • Mechanism of change
  • Methods that will work best
  • Intervention time frame
  • Intervention options
• Outline


  • Group title
  • Author
  • Frame of Reference
  • Purpose
  • Group membership and size
  • Group goals and rationale
  • Outcome criteria
  • Method
  • Time and place of meeting
  • Supplies and cost
  • References
• Group Title


  • Suggests purpose, strategies
  • Does not identify diagnosis
  • No negative stigma
  • Catchy and memorable
• Author


  OTs working on the group protocol
• Frame of Reference


  Brief summary and justification
• Purpose


  • General intent
  • Overall group goals should be stated, as well as general nature of the activities to be used
  • Should be short
• Group Membership and Size


  • General diagnostic factors like age, functional level, gender, and role identity
  • Inclusion and exclusion criteria as to who may be present in this group
• Group Goals and Rationale


  • List 3-8 goals using appropriate OT terminologies
  • should be observable and measurable
  • Goals and sessions may not be an exact match
  • Rationale explains why goals were chosen
  • Limitations, precautions, and adaptations
• Outcome Criteria


  • Desired results in behavioral terms
  • e.g. to improve quality of life, competency, increase participation, improve health and well-being
  • different outcome measures found in the OTPF
  • Measurable way to demonstrate the effectiveness of the group to the client
  • Pre/post tests, attach an appropriate assessment tool
  • tells you if the client has improved based on a certain goal
• Method Media Used and Leadership Style


  • May be structured discussions or specific modalities that you will be using for this activity
  • Avoid therapeutic interventions which are the traditional roles of other disciplines
  • Leadership style depends upon the FOR
• Time and Place


  • Scheduling of sessions, length of sessions
  • Ideal place for the group
• Supplies and Cost


  • List the materials and supplies needed
  • Summary of total cost
• References


  • Includes short lectures, forms, and other copyrighted materials
  • APA format