Comparing cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance and motivational interviewing in stroke rehabilitation: A protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Long-term disability following stroke significantly affects functional abilities and daily living activities. This protocol outlines a planned three-arm randomized controlled trial to compare effects of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) on occupational performance among individuals with chronic stroke. Method: Sixty individuals with chronic stroke will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: CO-OP, MI, or control. The primary outcome of interest is occupational performance, evaluated using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and Performance Quality Rating Scale (PQRS). Secondary outcomes include functional independence, measured by Functional Independence Measurement (FIM), and self-efficacy, assessed with General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). Assessments will be conducted at baseline, postintervention (5 weeks), and 1-month follow-up. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The Shapiro–Wilk test will assess data normality. For quantitative variables, ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis tests will be used depending on distribution. Qualitative variables will be analyzed using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. Discussion: This protocol describes the methodology for comparing the effectiveness of CO-OP and MI in improving occupational performance in individuals with stroke. The findings from the planned study will inform future large-scale trials and may guide clinical decision-making in rehabilitation settings. Trial Registration: IRCT20180515039676N1.