This pilot study investigated the efficacy of a job register index to support return to work (RTW) for injured workers in the construction industry. Participants included injured workers (n = 22), supervisors/managers (n = 23), treating practitioners (n = 5), occupational rehabilitation consultants (n = 5), union representatives/occupational health and safety representatives (n = 5), RTW coordinators (n = 2), steering committee members (n = 4) and the designated project officer (n = 1). A pre–post test intact group design was used to evaluate the perceived utility of the job register. A partial set of the sample including injured workers and supervisors/managers participated in the pretrial phase (n = 28) while the trial phase included more numerous stakeholder groups to assess the perceived utility of the register (n = 39). Participants completed surveys that incorporated a number of differing sections including injury description and circumstances, communication and collaboration with others, their overall opinion of the return to work process in general and suggestions for future improvements. Additional questions were designed for those participating in the trial with regards to the efficacy of the register. Data were analysed using analysis of variance procedures with pairwise comparisons of pre–post intervention test means. Alternative job options were seen to be offered more frequently. Communication and cooperation improved post implementation. Supervisors perceived the job register a useful innovation to facilitate RTW. The register represents a new resource to the construction industry with potential for wider application following further study.
{"title":"Implementing a Suitable Jobs Register in the Construction Industry: Preliminary Evidence","authors":"Sophie M. Keele, K. V. Treuer, Vanessa L. Sturre","doi":"10.1375/JRC.17.1.15","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1375/JRC.17.1.15","url":null,"abstract":"This pilot study investigated the efficacy of a job register index to support return to work (RTW) for injured workers in the construction industry. Participants included injured workers (n = 22), supervisors/managers (n = 23), treating practitioners (n = 5), occupational rehabilitation consultants (n = 5), union representatives/occupational health and safety representatives (n = 5), RTW coordinators (n = 2), steering committee members (n = 4) and the designated project officer (n = 1). A pre–post test intact group design was used to evaluate the perceived utility of the job register. A partial set of the sample including injured workers and supervisors/managers participated in the pretrial phase (n = 28) while the trial phase included more numerous stakeholder groups to assess the perceived utility of the register (n = 39). Participants completed surveys that incorporated a number of differing sections including injury description and circumstances, communication and collaboration with others, their overall opinion of the return to work process in general and suggestions for future improvements. Additional questions were designed for those participating in the trial with regards to the efficacy of the register. Data were analysed using analysis of variance procedures with pairwise comparisons of pre–post intervention test means. Alternative job options were seen to be offered more frequently. Communication and cooperation improved post implementation. Supervisors perceived the job register a useful innovation to facilitate RTW. The register represents a new resource to the construction industry with potential for wider application following further study.","PeriodicalId":43415,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling","volume":"17 1","pages":"15-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2011-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1375/JRC.17.1.15","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66596252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study sought to identify influences on rehabilitation counsellors' preference to work in rural areas, including their recruitment to, and retention in, rural work settings. Participants were 38 practicing rehabilitation counsellors (31% males) recruited through the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors and the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia. The mean age of participants was 38.67 years (SD = 12.9 years, age range, 25 to 65 years). Nineteen (50%) were working in rural areas at the time of the survey. A specifically designed survey, the Work Setting Preference Inventory (WSPI), which incorporated both quantitative and qualitative response options, was used to collect data. Analysis involved open coding of data into themes that emerged from the participants' responses. Descriptive statistical analysis was applied to quantify the prevalence or salience of particular themes. Results suggest that participants perceived preference to work in rural area to be influenced by the unique lifestyle of rural communities and family friendly employer policies. They perceived the availability of employment and training opportunities and supplemental financial compensations as incentives to attract rehabilitation counsellors to work in rural areas. Programs to recruit rehabilitation counsellors to rural areas should address employee lifestyle preferences in the context their overall career development.
{"title":"Rehabilitation Counsellor Preferences for Rural Work Settings: Results and Implications of an Australian Study","authors":"Elise Gittoes, E. Mpofu, L. Matthews","doi":"10.1375/JRC.17.1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1375/JRC.17.1.1","url":null,"abstract":"This study sought to identify influences on rehabilitation counsellors' preference to work in rural areas, including their recruitment to, and retention in, rural work settings. Participants were 38 practicing rehabilitation counsellors (31% males) recruited through the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors and the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia. The mean age of participants was 38.67 years (SD = 12.9 years, age range, 25 to 65 years). Nineteen (50%) were working in rural areas at the time of the survey. A specifically designed survey, the Work Setting Preference Inventory (WSPI), which incorporated both quantitative and qualitative response options, was used to collect data. Analysis involved open coding of data into themes that emerged from the participants' responses. Descriptive statistical analysis was applied to quantify the prevalence or salience of particular themes. Results suggest that participants perceived preference to work in rural area to be influenced by the unique lifestyle of rural communities and family friendly employer policies. They perceived the availability of employment and training opportunities and supplemental financial compensations as incentives to attract rehabilitation counsellors to work in rural areas. Programs to recruit rehabilitation counsellors to rural areas should address employee lifestyle preferences in the context their overall career development.","PeriodicalId":43415,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling","volume":"17 1","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2011-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1375/JRC.17.1.1","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66596217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
There is now wide agreement that people with severe mental illness can be adequately treated and cared for in the community, provided back-up hospital care is available when needed. Another important development has been the recognition that clinical treatment and care is insufficient for recovery and restoration of role functioning following illness onset, and must be supplemented by evidence-based practices in psychiatric rehabilitation. This article describes how allied health professionals can lead recovery oriented approaches that incorporate evidence-based forms of psychiatric rehabilitation. Family psychoeducation and supported employment are provided as examples of such evidence-based practices that require wider implementation.
{"title":"Supporting Recovery Orientated Services for People With Severe Mental Illness","authors":"C. Lloyd, F. Deane, S. Tse, G. Waghorn","doi":"10.1375/JRC.15.1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1375/JRC.15.1.1","url":null,"abstract":"There is now wide agreement that people with severe mental illness can be adequately treated and cared for in the community, provided back-up hospital care is available when needed. Another important development has been the recognition that clinical treatment and care is insufficient for recovery and restoration of role functioning following illness onset, and must be supplemented by evidence-based practices in psychiatric rehabilitation. This article describes how allied health professionals can lead recovery oriented approaches that incorporate evidence-based forms of psychiatric rehabilitation. Family psychoeducation and supported employment are provided as examples of such evidence-based practices that require wider implementation.","PeriodicalId":43415,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling","volume":"15 1","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2009-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1375/JRC.15.1.1","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66596078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study examined the post-injury rehabilitation needs of 158 adult siblings of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States. The mean age of participants was 37.0 years (SD = 10.0 years), and their ages ranged from 19 to 72 years. A total of 120 (75.9%) of the participants were female. Participants completed the Family Needs Questionnaire (FNQ) (Kreutzer, 1988), which measures the unique needs of families following TBI. The FNQ counts the types of needs rated as important and the frequency in which those needs have been met. Data were analysed via hierarchical multiple regression analysis with the number of met needs set as the outcome variable. A total of 15 predictor variables assessed direct and indirect markers of caregiving related stresses corresponding to position in the Pearlin stress process model. Participants indicated that health information was the most important need while needs for involvement with care were the most often met. Results also indicated that participant feelings of more restrictions in valued family activities and perceptions of greater cognitive-behavioural impairments with their injured siblings were associated with lower number of met rehabilitation needs. Participants reported that the use of effective coping behaviours and access to social support were associated with higher numbers of met rehabilitation needs. Findings suggest adult siblings share similar needs to parents and spouses (i.e., the most common primary caregivers) and require professional attention and support following TBI.
{"title":"The Rehabilitation Needs of Adult Siblings of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Quantitative Investigation","authors":"C. E. Degeneffe","doi":"10.1375/JRC.15.1.12","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1375/JRC.15.1.12","url":null,"abstract":"This study examined the post-injury rehabilitation needs of 158 adult siblings of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States. The mean age of participants was 37.0 years (SD = 10.0 years), and their ages ranged from 19 to 72 years. A total of 120 (75.9%) of the participants were female. Participants completed the Family Needs Questionnaire (FNQ) (Kreutzer, 1988), which measures the unique needs of families following TBI. The FNQ counts the types of needs rated as important and the frequency in which those needs have been met. Data were analysed via hierarchical multiple regression analysis with the number of met needs set as the outcome variable. A total of 15 predictor variables assessed direct and indirect markers of caregiving related stresses corresponding to position in the Pearlin stress process model. Participants indicated that health information was the most important need while needs for involvement with care were the most often met. Results also indicated that participant feelings of more restrictions in valued family activities and perceptions of greater cognitive-behavioural impairments with their injured siblings were associated with lower number of met rehabilitation needs. Participants reported that the use of effective coping behaviours and access to social support were associated with higher numbers of met rehabilitation needs. Findings suggest adult siblings share similar needs to parents and spouses (i.e., the most common primary caregivers) and require professional attention and support following TBI.","PeriodicalId":43415,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling","volume":"15 1","pages":"12-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2009-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1375/JRC.15.1.12","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66596137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The purposes of this review article are to gather existing evidence on the contributing factors in affecting the psychosocial adjustment among people with chronic pain, and to promote a comprehensive conceptual framework in this topic by adapting Wallander and colleagues' (1989) Risk and Resistance Model of Adjustment. Our intention is to promote future empirical research that will validate this working conceptual framework and will provide and clinical guidelines for rehabilitation professionals who work with people with chronic pain.
{"title":"Psychosocial Adjustment of People with Chronic Pain: A Conceptual Framework of Risk and Resistance Factors","authors":"Gloria K. Lee, Denise Mercurio-Riley","doi":"10.1375/JRC.15.1.40","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1375/JRC.15.1.40","url":null,"abstract":"The purposes of this review article are to gather existing evidence on the contributing factors in affecting the psychosocial adjustment among people with chronic pain, and to promote a comprehensive conceptual framework in this topic by adapting Wallander and colleagues' (1989) Risk and Resistance Model of Adjustment. Our intention is to promote future empirical research that will validate this working conceptual framework and will provide and clinical guidelines for rehabilitation professionals who work with people with chronic pain.","PeriodicalId":43415,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling","volume":"15 1","pages":"40-60"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2009-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1375/JRC.15.1.40","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66596198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chen-Ping Lin, C. Chiu, Connie Sung, J. Lai, Fong Chan, E. Cardoso
The objective of the study was to validate the factorial structure of the short form of the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13) with a sample of substance abuse clients to facilitate health promotion research with this population in the future. Participants were 406 clients recruited from seven residential therapeutic community programs for the treatment of substance abuse. Four confirmatory factor models were tested: (1) a three-factor correlated model; (2) a two-factor correlated model; (3) a 13-item one-factor model; and (4) a 9-item one-factor model. The results indicated that the data did not fit the three-factor correlated model and the two-factor correlated model, whereas empirical data fits the 13-item one-factor and the 9-item one-factor models reasonably well, with the latter representing a significantly better fit than the former one. These results are consistent with previous studies and reflected a unidimensional factor in the sense of coherence, as opposed to the two or three-factor structure. The SOC-9 has considerable promise as a brief measure of SOC in substance abuse assessment and treatment settings.
{"title":"Structure of the SOC-13 in Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Clients: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis","authors":"Chen-Ping Lin, C. Chiu, Connie Sung, J. Lai, Fong Chan, E. Cardoso","doi":"10.1375/JRC.15.1.28","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1375/JRC.15.1.28","url":null,"abstract":"The objective of the study was to validate the factorial structure of the short form of the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13) with a sample of substance abuse clients to facilitate health promotion research with this population in the future. Participants were 406 clients recruited from seven residential therapeutic community programs for the treatment of substance abuse. Four confirmatory factor models were tested: (1) a three-factor correlated model; (2) a two-factor correlated model; (3) a 13-item one-factor model; and (4) a 9-item one-factor model. The results indicated that the data did not fit the three-factor correlated model and the two-factor correlated model, whereas empirical data fits the 13-item one-factor and the 9-item one-factor models reasonably well, with the latter representing a significantly better fit than the former one. These results are consistent with previous studies and reflected a unidimensional factor in the sense of coherence, as opposed to the two or three-factor structure. The SOC-9 has considerable promise as a brief measure of SOC in substance abuse assessment and treatment settings.","PeriodicalId":43415,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling","volume":"15 1","pages":"28-39"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2009-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1375/JRC.15.1.28","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66596149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Audiology in Developing Countries Editors: Bradley McPherson and Ron Brouillette Nova Science Publishers: New York. ISBN: 9781604569452. Year: 2008","authors":"A. Mupawose","doi":"10.1375/JRC.15.1.61","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1375/JRC.15.1.61","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":43415,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling","volume":"15 1","pages":"61-62"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2009-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1375/JRC.15.1.61","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66596211","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F. Alpass, R. Flett, A. D. Trlin, Anne Henderson, N. North, M. Skinner, Sarah Wright
The present study sought to investigate the current levels of psychological wellbeing in three immigrant groups to New Zealand. In addition, we sought to determine whether aspects of the acculturation process were related to mental health outcomes. This is a cross-sectional study from the fifth wave of annual in-depth interviews with three groups of recently arrived skilled immigrants from India, the People's Republic of China and South Africa. Interviews focused on international contacts and the migration of relatives and friends, housing, language, qualifications and employment, and social participation. Participants were also asked about health difficulties, homesickness, and whether they felt settled in New Zealand. The SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire (Ware, 1997), assessed the respondent's functional status and wellbeing in relation to four health concepts: vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional health, and general mental wellbeing. The immigrant group differed significantly from the New Zealand population on only one of the four mental health scales, Vitality, with immigrants reporting higher levels. Different acculturation factors were found to predict different mental health subscales in regression analyses. Gender, home contact and health difficulty explained 22% of the unique variance in Vitality; employment status and health difficulty explained 18% of the variance in Social Functioning; health difficulty significantly contributed to the explained variance (14%) in the Role limitations due to emotional health subscale; gender, home contact and health difficulty explained 27% of the variance in the Mental Health subscale. There was little evidence for lower levels of psychological wellbeing for the three immigrant groups compared to the general New Zealand population, nor for differences between the three groups. However, results highlight the importance of differential predictors in the understanding of psychological health in migrant groups.
{"title":"Psychological Wellbeing in Three Groups of Skilled Immigrants to New Zealand","authors":"F. Alpass, R. Flett, A. D. Trlin, Anne Henderson, N. North, M. Skinner, Sarah Wright","doi":"10.1375/JRC.13.1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1375/JRC.13.1.1","url":null,"abstract":"The present study sought to investigate the current levels of psychological wellbeing in three immigrant groups to New Zealand. In addition, we sought to determine whether aspects of the acculturation process were related to mental health outcomes. This is a cross-sectional study from the fifth wave of annual in-depth interviews with three groups of recently arrived skilled immigrants from India, the People's Republic of China and South Africa. Interviews focused on international contacts and the migration of relatives and friends, housing, language, qualifications and employment, and social participation. Participants were also asked about health difficulties, homesickness, and whether they felt settled in New Zealand. The SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire (Ware, 1997), assessed the respondent's functional status and wellbeing in relation to four health concepts: vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional health, and general mental wellbeing. The immigrant group differed significantly from the New Zealand population on only one of the four mental health scales, Vitality, with immigrants reporting higher levels. Different acculturation factors were found to predict different mental health subscales in regression analyses. Gender, home contact and health difficulty explained 22% of the unique variance in Vitality; employment status and health difficulty explained 18% of the variance in Social Functioning; health difficulty significantly contributed to the explained variance (14%) in the Role limitations due to emotional health subscale; gender, home contact and health difficulty explained 27% of the variance in the Mental Health subscale. There was little evidence for lower levels of psychological wellbeing for the three immigrant groups compared to the general New Zealand population, nor for differences between the three groups. However, results highlight the importance of differential predictors in the understanding of psychological health in migrant groups.","PeriodicalId":43415,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling","volume":"13 1","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2007-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1375/JRC.13.1.1","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66595638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The evidence-based practice movement has led to higher quality intervention studies being reported in the health sciences literature (see, for example, Mosely et al., 2002), and consequently being available for uptake by practising health professionals. Yet interventions in applied settings need to satisfy more than the methodologically-based criteria associated with being categorised as a 'well-established treatment' (Chambless et al., 1996). Some of these additional criteria were recently described by King and Ollendick (2007). The current article extends these criteria so as to include attributes of interventions that (ideally) are required when designing or delivering services within rehabilitation settings.
循证实践运动已导致卫生科学文献中报告了更高质量的干预研究(例如，见Mosely等人，2002年)，因此可供执业卫生专业人员采用。然而，应用环境中的干预措施需要满足的不仅仅是与归类为“成熟治疗”相关的基于方法学的标准(Chambless et al.， 1996)。King和Ollendick(2007)最近描述了其中一些附加标准。当前的文章扩展了这些标准，以便包括在康复环境中设计或提供服务时(理想情况下)所需的干预措施的属性。
{"title":"Identifying and Developing Effective Interventions in Rehabilitation Settings: Recognising the Limits of the Evidence-Based Practice Approach","authors":"G. Murphy, N. King, T. Ollendick","doi":"10.1375/JRC.13.1.14","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1375/JRC.13.1.14","url":null,"abstract":"The evidence-based practice movement has led to higher quality intervention studies being reported in the health sciences literature (see, for example, Mosely et al., 2002), and consequently being available for uptake by practising health professionals. Yet interventions in applied settings need to satisfy more than the methodologically-based criteria associated with being categorised as a 'well-established treatment' (Chambless et al., 1996). Some of these additional criteria were recently described by King and Ollendick (2007). The current article extends these criteria so as to include attributes of interventions that (ideally) are required when designing or delivering services within rehabilitation settings.","PeriodicalId":43415,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling","volume":"13 1","pages":"14-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2007-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1375/JRC.13.1.14","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66595685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study was designed to investigate the effects of giving choices on the level of enjoyment experienced by children with severe disabilities in a recreational activity, without compromising safety. The children were attending a horse-riding program, designed to be both therapeutic and enjoyable. Initial observations, however, indicated that the lack of choices, and the high level of physical assistance provided to the children resulted in minimal benefit or pleasure for the children. In the role of consultants, we introduced a simple intervention in which two meaningful riding routines were taught and choices of game activities were offered during the riding itself. Affording choices (intervention condition) and program-as-usual (control condition) were randomly alternated within riding sessions. The children's indices of pleasure increased over sessions as they mastered basic riding routines. Seven of the 8 children showed differential increases in enjoyment during the choice condition, without an increase in unacceptably risky behaviour. The study demonstrated the value for leisure programs of emphasising choice and autonomy within safety margins, although there is likely to be an additional, and desirable, influence on the children's enjoyment by virtue of their selecting their preferred or more successful activities when offered choices.
{"title":"'Look Mum, No Hands!': Having Fun and Staying Safe are Not Incompatible Outcomes of Exercising Choice","authors":"I. M. Evans, A. Bingham","doi":"10.1375/JRC.13.1.44","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1375/JRC.13.1.44","url":null,"abstract":"This study was designed to investigate the effects of giving choices on the level of enjoyment experienced by children with severe disabilities in a recreational activity, without compromising safety. The children were attending a horse-riding program, designed to be both therapeutic and enjoyable. Initial observations, however, indicated that the lack of choices, and the high level of physical assistance provided to the children resulted in minimal benefit or pleasure for the children. In the role of consultants, we introduced a simple intervention in which two meaningful riding routines were taught and choices of game activities were offered during the riding itself. Affording choices (intervention condition) and program-as-usual (control condition) were randomly alternated within riding sessions. The children's indices of pleasure increased over sessions as they mastered basic riding routines. Seven of the 8 children showed differential increases in enjoyment during the choice condition, without an increase in unacceptably risky behaviour. The study demonstrated the value for leisure programs of emphasising choice and autonomy within safety margins, although there is likely to be an additional, and desirable, influence on the children's enjoyment by virtue of their selecting their preferred or more successful activities when offered choices.","PeriodicalId":43415,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling","volume":"13 1","pages":"44-61"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2007-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1375/JRC.13.1.44","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66595847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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