Frequently Asked Questions

What are the AusTOMs?
The AusTOMs are the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures. These tools are designed for Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists to use to measure the outcomes of their services in terms of patient functioning. Therapists can make a rating of patient function in four areas (Impairment, Activity Limitation, Participation Restriction and Distress/Wellbeing) at the beginning and at the end of therapy to examine the change in functioning over time. The AusTOMs provides a quick and easy method of quantifying the outcomes of therapy services for these three professions.

For which professions are the AusTOMs available?
The AusTOMs study was funded to develop measures for three professions: Physiotherapy, Speech Pathology, and Occupational Therapy. These are three of the biggest allied health professions in Australia. It is possible that, in the future, AusTOMs scales suitable for other allied health professions will be created. However, there are currently no plans for the team at LTU to create AusTOMs for other professions.

Where can I get a copy of the AusTOMs?
The AusTOMs scale kits are now available for purchase, through La Trobe University. Visit our orders page for more details.

How much do the AusTOMs cost?
The AusTOMs kits (for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology) are sold separately; each kit includes a user's manual and the AusTOMs scales for that profession. The Occupational Therapy (OT) AusTOM kit costs $AUD55, the Speech PAthology/Physiotherapy kit costs $AUD40 (plus GST (on either kit for Australian orders) and postage.) Please visit the orders page for more information.

Will training be available for AusTOMs?
The AusTOMs manuals for each profession include a guide to using the scales. They also include case studies for practice ratings, along with answers and discussion points. Unfortunately we cannot offer face-to-face training for the AusTOMs. However, the 2nd Edition of AusTOMs for Occupational Therapy (available late 2007) will contain a training DVD. If you have further questions about training, please contact us.

Which client groups are rated on the AusTOMs scales?
The AusTOMs scales are designed to broadly cover all client groups for each of physiotherapy, speech pathology and occupational therapy professions. Clinicians from each profession have been involved in developing the scales to reflect all relevant areas of clinical practice. The scales are not specific to either paediatric or adult populations but are suitable for rating outcome for both.

How much time does it take to make a rating using the AusTOMs?
Clinicians who have used the AusTOMs scales during the 6-month trial in Victoria have reported that the scales are quick and easy to use. Making a rating in all four of the domains on each scale does not take more than a few minutes per client. The scales are even quicker to use as you become more familiar with them.

Is the client involved in rating the AusTOMs?
The AusTOMs scales are not assessments of the client- that is, a client does not have to perform any particular activity for a rating to be made (as happens with most assessment tools). Rather, the clinician makes a rating of the client's abilities and difficulties, based on their own assessment, diagnosis, and clinical judgement. Clients or carers will, of course, provide information to the clinician about their health and functioning, as part of the assessment process.

What is the difference between TOM (UK) and the AusTOMs?
The AusTOMs are conceptually similar to the TOM, with both tools built around the same basic structure. The TOM uses the wording of the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Impairment, Disability and Handicap (ICIDH) in three of its four domains. A fourth domain, Wellbeing, was added to reflect an area of health that is not overtly covered by the ICIDH. The AusTOMs has used the later World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Under this classification the terms 'Disability' and 'Handicap' have been replaced by the concepts of 'Activity Limitations' and 'Participation Restrictions'. For more information on the ICF, please visit the World Health Organisation ICF site.

As well as updating to the latest WHO terminology, the AusTOMs scale differ from the TOMs in the scale areas covered for each profession. The AusTOMs scale headings reflect the areas of therapy covered by the physiotherapy, speech pathology, and occupational therapy professions in Australia. The AusTOMs scale headings can be found on the AusTOMs scale pages for physiotherapy, speech pathology, and occupational therapy.

Finally, and most importantly, the AusTOMs scales have been developed by Australian allied health professionals for Australian clinical practice, and the validity and reliability of the scales have been assessed within the Australian context.

Where can I access more information about the AusTOMs or the TOM scales?
Please see our publications page, where there is a list of articles and publications containing information about the AusTOMs and the TOM.

Have we missed something? Contact us with any other queries.

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Funding for the AusTOMs study was provided by the
Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing