What is the COPM and what does it measure?

• A. A standardized test of physical endurance.
• B. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure; measures client-perceived performance and satisfaction in chosen occupations.
• C. A caregiver questionnaire assessing task difficulty.
• D. A brief screen of cognitive function.

Answer: (B)

The COPM is a client-centered outcome measure that captures what matters most to a person in daily life. The client identifies up to five important activities across self-care, productivity, and leisure where performance is challenging or goals are desired. For each activity, the client rates how important it is, then rates current performance and satisfaction with that performance on a 10-point scale. This yields two main scores—average performance and average satisfaction—across the chosen activities, and it allows tracking changes over time as goals are addressed. Because the data come directly from the client, the COPM reflects the person’s own perception of how they perform and how satisfied they are with that performance, making it especially useful for setting goals and measuring outcomes from the client’s viewpoint. It’s not a test of physical endurance, not a caregiver questionnaire, and not a cognitive screen; its purpose is specifically to measure client-perceived occupational performance and satisfaction in chosen occupations.