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Application of the Rasch rating scale model to the assessment of quality of life of persons with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- GOMEZ Laura E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37(2), June 2012, pp.141-150.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Individual quality of life is a concept referring to core domains influenced by personal characteristics and environmental factors, and has received increasing attention in the field of intellectual disability. This study aimed to test and improve the psychometric properties of the INTEGRAL quality of life scale (a questionnaire to measure quality of life for adults with intellectual disability), including the observed fit of data to the Rasch model. The research involved a sample of 271 adults from provinces across Spain who had intellectual disability and used social services, and questionnaires were completed by qualified interviewers. The article describes and discusses the methodology, data analysis and results.
Measuring goal realization associated with disability services and supports: initial evidence for a new tool
- Authors:
- HAGILIASSIS Nick, KORITSAS Stella, CUZZILLO Celeste
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 17(1), 2020, pp.4-12.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
There are few outcome measurement tools that can be accessed directly by people with intellectual disability (ID) and that can be readily used in service delivery settings. Developed to address these limitations, the Measuring Outcomes in Services and Supports – Short Form is a measure of the extent to which a person's goals are realized in the context of service and supports delivery. Specific aim is to establish initial evidence for the face and content validity of the tool, an essential step in the first stage of developing evaluation tools. Face validity was explored via an on‐line survey eliciting information from an “expert group” about the purpose, adequacy, clarity, and attractiveness of the tool. Content validity was examined by comparing goals for people with disability against a framework for categorizing personal outcomes and their influencers, to gauge the tool's relevance, and representation for measuring whole of life disability outcomes. Participants gave positive support overall for aspects of face validity surveyed. Suggestions for further improvements were provided, most of which were accommodated. Other issues raised reflected themes general to the field of outcomes measurement in disability populations (e.g., complexity for people with ID), with strategies suggested for attenuating their impact. Participant goals were representative of outcome domains reflecting the current policy environment in disability, as were their influencing factors. With limited tools to measure goal realization for people accessing a range of disability supports, the tool has acceptable face validity and content validity and is sufficiently practical for use in disability services. (Publisher abstract)
The Essen Climate Evaluation Schema measure of social climate in a secure service for people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- QUINN Marian, THOMAS Cathy, CHESTER Verity
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 6(4), 2012, pp.171-178.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This study investigated the psychometric properties of the EssenCES measure of social climate in a secure service for people with intellectual disabilities. Fifty one patients, aged 18 to 71 years, residing in a secure intellectual disabilities service completed the EssenCES as part of routine clinical practice. Analysis revealed acceptable reliability for all three subscales. In order to consider one aspect of the construct validity of this measure, a predicted group difference regarding the impact of security level on ratings of social climate was investigated. Analysis revealed that social climate ratings were more positive on low secure wards than medium secure wards as measured by the combined EssenCES subscales, and the Experienced Safety subscale. The authors concluded that the results provide preliminary evidence to suggest that the EssenCES subscales were reliable in this previously unconsidered population. However the validity of the measure is still unclear and requires further investigation.
A quality framework for personalised residential supports for adults with developmental disabilities
- Authors:
- COCKS E., BOADEN R.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 55(8), August 2011, pp.720-731.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The purpose of this study, the Personalised Residential Supports (PRS) Project, was to examine the nature, purposes and outcomes of residential supports that are developed around the needs and preferences of individual adults with developmental disabilities and their families. It considered the perspectives of all key stakeholders including service providers. PRS as conceived initially as having four key criteria in the support arrangements, a high degree of: individualisation; individual/family influence; informal relationships; and person-centredness. Four methods were used to develop a descriptive framework for PRS: a review of empirical and descriptive literature; 2-year case studies of six adults from Western Australia whose living arrangements met the initial PRS criteria; a focus group of adults with developmental disabilities; and a series of written surveys of 18 ‘experts’ including family members, service providers and policymakers. Qualitative analysis resulted in a PRS quality framework made up of nine themes containing 28 attributes. The nine themes were named as: Assumptions, Leadership, My Home, One Person at a Time, Planning, Control, Support, Thriving and Social Inclusion. The research is continuing to develop the framework so that it can be used in the evaluation of existing or planned residential support arrangements.
Family quality of life among families with a member who has an intellectual disability: an exploratory examination of key domains and dimensions of the revised FQOL Survey
- Authors:
- WERNER S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(6), June 2009, pp.501-511.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The Family Quality of Life Survey (FQOLS-2006) was developed as the result of increased interest in family quality of life (FQOL) among families with a member who has an intellectual disability (ID). The instrument includes nine life domains and six dimensions reflecting the main areas and characteristics of FQOL. The aim of the current study was to provide a descriptive analysis of the domains and dimensions of the survey and to explore their relationship to one another and to global satisfaction. A convenience sample of 35 participants with a family member who had ID completed the FQOLS-2006 in a large urban centre in Canada. The data were analysed using descriptive analyses. The findings showed that although participants differentiated between different domains and dimensions, as reflected in their variability, stability was also found. For example, support from others was rated lowest across most dimensions, while family relationships and health of the family were generally rated higher. The findings strengthen the importance of examining both the overall perception of FQOL as well as the perceptions in individual life domains. Moreover, they highlight the need to examine each life domain according to its various dimensions. In sum, the results call for further examination of the FQOLS-2006 as a useful tool for assessing FQOL and for implementing services based on it.
Sexuality, education and adolescents with developmental disabilities: assessment, policy and advocacy
- Authors:
- TICE Carolyn J., HARNEK HALL Diane M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 7(1), 2008, pp.47-62.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This paper begins with an overview of US policies relating to sex education for adolescents with disabilities, and argues that the issue of sexuality can usefully be viewed from a strengths perspective. It then describes the Tice-Hall Sexuality Education Assessment (which is also reproduced in an appendix), an instrument designed to evaluate the efficacy, in strengths-based terms, of educational materials developed for developmentally disabled adolescents. The domains and items of the instrument suggest that advocacy is needed to ensure that the stereotyped views so often held about the sexuality of these young people are challenged by sex education programmes. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Development and psychometric evaluation of the Group Home Culture Scale
- Authors:
- HUMPHREYS Lincoln, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 33(3), 2020, pp.515-528.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Organizational culture in group homes for people with intellectual disabilities has been identified as influencing staff behaviour and residents’ quality of life (QOL). Despite this influence, culture has been under‐researched, with no published and validated instrument to measure its dimensions in group homes. The aim was to develop such a measure. Method: The Group Home Culture Scale (GHCS) was developed using a theory‐driven approach. Items were generated from the research literature, which were reviewed by experts and tested in cognitive interviews. Data from 343 front‐line staff were used for exploratory factor analysis. Results: The content and face validity of the GHCS were found to be acceptable. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the GHCS measured seven dimensions of group home culture. Cronbach's alpha for the dimensions ranged from 0.81 to 0.92. Conclusions: The GHCS has potential use in research to determine whether dimensions of group home culture predict the quality of staff support and residents’ QOL. (Publisher abstract)
Connecting people diagnostic toolkit
- Author:
- FOUNDATION FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 17p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Research into what makes community connecting effective suggests that some organisations are better placed than others to deliver an effective service. This tool is based upon those findings. It is designed to highlight what is believed to be the necessary conditions for establishing a good connecting service for people with learning disabilities. In other words the authors believe that organisations that are doing well in the areas listed here have the best chance of getting it right. The tool should generate an accurate appraisal of organisational readiness to think about community connecting. That outcome depends on organisational willingness to be both honest about what is done now. The tool is divided into six main areas: your organisation; values and culture; the services you offer; meeting individual needs; you staff; and supervision and mentoring.
The Nominal Group Technique as an evaluation tool for solution-focused coaching
- Authors:
- ROEDEN John M., MAASKANT Marian A., CURFS Leopold M. G.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 25(6), November 2012, pp.588-593.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Solution-focused coaching (SFC) is a competence-based approach aimed at assisting individuals or groups to make desired changes in their personal or work life. The approach has been found to be useful for coaching teams who support people with intellectual disabilities (ID). The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) provides a structured method for collecting and organising the thoughts of a group of people with regard to a particular question. The aim of this study was to examine the perceived strengths of, and recommendations for, SFC for teams coaching people with ID via NGT, as well as the extent to which the NGT results reflect the results of an SFC questionnaire. The participants were 54 staff members at a Dutch service provider for children and adults with ID. The participants were coached in line with the principles of SFC. Eighteen participated in NGT, while 36 completed the SFC questionnaire. The strengths of and recommendations for SFC were obtained via NGT. The strengths of SFC include ‘exploring hidden successes’ and ‘focusing on solutions’. It was recommended that ‘the results be consolidated in follow-up meetings’. The SFC questionnaire participants largely agreed with the NGT statements on the content of the strengths and recommendations, but differed in terms of priorities. The article concludes that NGT is a valuable tool in exploring people's opinions and priorities, but further research is needed to elucidate the perceived priorities of SFC for teams coaching persons with ID.
Psychometric comparison of the functional assessment instruments QABF, FACT and FAST for self-injurious, stereotypic and aggressive/destructive behaviour
- Authors:
- ZAJA Rebecca H., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 24(1), January 2011, pp.18-28.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study examined and compared the psychometric properties of three functional assessment rating scales. The scales were: The Questions about Behavioural Function (QABF); the Functional Assessment for Multiple Causality (FACT); and the Functional Analysis Screening Tool (FAST). The scales were compared for three target behaviour types: self-injurious behaviour (SIB); stereotypic behaviour; and aggressive/destructive behaviour. Each scale was administered twice by two raters to 130 adults with intellectual disability. Findings indicated that the reliability of the FACT and the QABF for estimates across all three behaviours was acceptable to good. The FAST had generally poorer reliability scores. In examination of the differences and similarities between the three instruments, it appeared that reliability and validity on the FAST were hindered by limited response format and restricted range of subscales.