Occupational Performance Inventory of Sexuality and Intimacy (OPISI)
Available Languages
The OPISI is available in multiple languages. Select your preferred language to access registration and resources:
About Occupational Therapy and Sexual Health
Occupational therapy (OT) is a healthcare profession that helps people experiencing illness, injury, disability, or life changes develop, recover, maintain, or prevent decline in meaningful participation in daily activities and life roles. Occupational therapists evaluate how a person's skills, abilities, and needs interact with their environment and the demands of their desired activities, then develop personalized interventions to promote independence, participation, well-being, and satisfaction across all aspects of life.
Sexual activity, intimacy, sexual health, family planning, and sexual expression are meaningful aspects of the human experience that occupational therapists are uniquely qualified to address through an occupation-centered approach to human development, health, and well-being. Occupational therapists evaluate client factors that influence sexual and intimate functioning, including sexual self-view (how individuals perceive themselves as sexual beings), sexual interest (desire and motivation for sexual engagement), and sexual response (physiological and psychological reactions during sexual experiences). By identifying gaps in sexual health knowledge, skills, and abilities, occupational therapists support clients in achieving their goals for optimal participation in sexuality and intimacy.
What is the OPISI?
Dr. Beth Ann Walker, PhD, MS, OTR, FAOTA, developed the Occupational Performance Inventory of Sexuality and Intimacy (OPISI, pronounced oh-PEE-zee) to comprehensively screen, assess, and measure performance related to the complex occupational nature of sexuality and intimacy.
The OPISI Includes Three Components:
- Screening tool: Assures clients that sexuality and intimacy are appropriate and acceptable topics to address during occupational therapy and gathers information about the client to determine the need for continued evaluation and intervention.
- In-depth self-assessment: Provides clients and practitioners a greater understanding of client concerns related to: Sexual Activity, Sexual Interest, Sexual Response, Sexual Expression, Sexual Self-View, Intimacy, Sexual Health, and Family Planning. Occupational therapists use this information to help clients develop goals, plan interventions, and make necessary referrals.
- Performance measure: Used by occupational therapy practitioners to establish a baseline and detect self-perceived changes in the client's perception of occupational performance in terms of ability, satisfaction with ability, understanding of how their condition impacts performance (sexual knowledge), and confidence in their skills and ability to make necessary modifications to improve performance (self-efficacy).
Benefits of the OPISI
- For Clients:
- Confirmation that sexuality and intimacy are important aspects of daily living
- Exposure to the various dimensions of the sexuality and intimacy experience
- Greater understanding of the multiple ways their condition may influence participation and performance
- Confirmation that concerns related to sexuality and intimacy are appropriate to discuss during occupational therapy
- Positive influence on well-being and quality of life
- For Practitioners and the Profession:
- OT practitioners will have a greater understanding of the scope of practice in addressing sexuality and intimacy.
- Vocabulary to develop well-written, client-centered, occupation-focused goals
- Greater ability to produce well-designed intervention plans
- Recognition of OT as a skilled service provided to address sexuality and intimacy
- Increased likelihood that clients will be referred to OT for needed skilled services
Who Can Administer the OPISI?
Skill Requirement
The OPISI was designed specifically for occupational therapy and should be administered only by occupational therapy practitioners.
Although many professions address aspects of sexuality and intimacy with clients and a multidisciplinary collaborative approach is strongly encouraged, occupational therapy practitioners are uniquely positioned to address the full scope of concerns assessed by the OPISI. Occupational therapy practitioners are experts in understanding and reducing the impact of client factors, performance skills and patterns, and contextual demands to promote optimal participation and performance in these valued occupations.
Roles and Responsibilities in OPISI Administration:
In countries or regions where occupational therapy assistants practice alongside occupational therapists, practitioners should refer to their professional practice standards and regulatory requirements to determine appropriate roles and responsibilities for each practitioner level in administering the OPISI screening, evaluation, and reevaluation components.
Example: United States Practice Standards
In the United States, the occupational therapy workforce includes both occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Standards of Practice for Occupational Therapy (2021) outlines specific roles for each practitioner level in screening, evaluation, and reevaluation. US practitioners should refer to current AOTA standards and state licensure requirements for guidance on role delineation when using the OPISI.
Access the OPISI and Related Resources
By completing the registration process, the registered user has free access to the OPISI tools and related resources and may use them freely in practice. To accommodate free access, the developer may contact registered users in the future for research purposes.
Select your language to register and access the OPISI materials:
Questions or Want to Get Involved?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the administration and use of the OPISI, recommendations for the addition of new items, or would like to participate in ongoing research related to the clinical use of the OPISI, please email Beth Ann Walker at walkerba@uindy.edu.