Project Name
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center in Rehabilitation of Persons with Long-Term Mental Illness - A Process and Outcome Evaluation of a Recovery Center That Integrates Employment and Education Services with Wellness and Recovery.
Grant Number
H133B990023
Tool Type
Questionnaire
Tool Class
Nonengineering Tool
Disability Targeted
Psychiatric Disabilities
Study Target
People with psychiatric disabilities and the wellness education programs in which they participate.
Study Goal
To evaluate the effectiveness of psychosocial rehabilitation programs to determine if their services empower people.
Tool Admin
Completed by participants
Ease of Use
Very Easy
Time to Complete
3 minutes
Skills Needed
None
Equipment Required
None
Sensitive Issues
None
Approvals Required
unknown
How Administered
It is a self-reporting tool, filled out by a participant with a research associate to assist. The scale is easy for participants to use and can be completed in approximately three minutes. No special skills, equipment, or sensitive issues are involved.
Scope
The Empowerment Scale takes measurement of empowerment, control and self-determination, and decision making in the recovery process at a wellness center. Confidentiality is maintained through coded forms. All participants sign informed consent agreement.
Development Background
The scale is designed to study persons with mental illness participating in a wellness program and is used as a program evaluation tool to make sure a center is providing services that empower people. Research and development of the Empowerment Scale included extensive literature review in the fields of mental illness, recovery, and empowerment.
Outside Consultation
The scale was also validated across several institutions.
Consumer Input
Consumer input was integral to its development: the Advisory Board of the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation is more than half consumer and contributed to and reviewed the scale for accuracy.
Other Purposes
Simple modifications to the scale would make it usable for similar programs for other populations.
Sample Type
The original sample was limited to those participating in the program.
Data Analysis
Is In Process
Limitations
While there are no limitations to the scale itself, there are some limitations to the project itself in that it had fewer rigid research controls.
Findings
Data collection continues through the length of the 5-year project. Data analysis for this phase of the project was still in process as of December 2003. The project uses variant and covariant analyses to track changes over time. Missing data is a factor and is being handled using alternative methods. While there are no limitations to the scale itself, there are some limitations to the project itself in that it had fewer rigid research controls.
Research Methods
The project uses variant and covariant analyses to track changes over time
Missing data is a factor and is being handled using alternative methods.
Findings Impact
It is hoped that this research will convince the mental health field that wellness education services are critical to the recovery process of people with serious mental illness.
Who Uses Data
Data collected and analyzed will most likely be used by program- and system-level personnel to judge the effectiveness of wellness programs.
Is Tool Free
No
Tool Contact
E. Sally Rogers, ScD
Contact Name
Dori Hutchison, ScD
Phone
617/353-3549