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Project Goals & Rationale

Implementation and Evaluation of Telephone Assisted Interventions Mary Sormanti, Ph.D., MSW Columbia University School of Social Work. Project Goals & Rationale. Development & implementation of telephone support groups for people coping with eol issues Development of an evaluation model

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Project Goals & Rationale

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  1. Implementation and Evaluation of Telephone Assisted InterventionsMary Sormanti, Ph.D., MSWColumbia University School of Social Work

  2. Project Goals & Rationale • Development & implementation of telephone support groups for people coping with eol issues • Development of an evaluation model • Dissemination of outcomes & procedural issues • Student instruction about intervention development and evaluation

  3. Goal/Rationale Why Develop & implement telephone support groups for people coping with eol issues? • Accessibility • Affordability • Empirical evidence of positive psychosocial outcomes

  4. Goal/Rationale Why develop an evaluation model? • We want to know if what we do makes a difference • Forces us to be clear about our targets of intervention as well as the interventions themselves • Encourages a discussion of goals with our clients • Provides us with insight that might not be obtained otherwise • Enhances the link between research and practice (mutual) • Necessary component of an ethical accountable profession • Managed Care environment demands it

  5. Goal/Rationale Developing an evaluation model also will help to answer the following questions: • Are these types of groups feasible from agency & client perspectives? • Will agencies support their use? • Will people attend? • Will participants be satisfied? • Will the groups lead to hoped-for client changes? • Will participants have higher self-esteem? • Will participants experience better quality of life • Will participants be less depressed? • Will participants perceive change in qol?

  6. Goal/Rationale Why disseminate outcomes & procedural issues? • Add to existing practice knowledge • Others can learn from my mistakes! • Encourage innovation • Demonstrate that evaluation is doable

  7. Project Overview to Date • Relationship-Building with Agency – Cancer Care, New York City • Determination of Group to be Served • Intervention Development • Interviews with former telephone group participants • Interviews with agency staff • Development of group parameters • Development of Measurement Plan • Deciding upon relevant “targets” • Reviewing measurement literature • Choosing & locating appropriate measures • Compilation of Measurement Packet • Recruitment of Group Members • Review of agency records • Screening interviews • Facilitation of Group for Women with Advanced Ovarian Cancer • Attainment of pre- & post-group data • Analysis of group process

  8. PROGRAM ELEMENTS GOALS OPERATIONALIZATION Identification Process ·Target individuals who are confronted with end- of-life issues • ·Advanced/metastatic illness • Willingness to talk about dying • · Intervention Process ·Provision of emotional support ·Facilitation of grief work ·Enabling open discussion of issues related to dying ·Encourage discussion of affect ·Maintain focus on difficult feelings ·Universalize & normalize experiences ·Facilitate communication with family and friends ·Problem-solve strategies for coping with losses and demands ·Explore spiritual needs Program Outcomes ·Enhanced adjustment to dying process ·Improved quality of life ·Decreased psych. distress ·Increased self-esteem · ·

  9. Challenges • Philosophical • Organizational/Procedural • Uncontrollable

  10. Philosophical Challenges • Defining “end of life” • Deciding how to advertise the group • Is it okay to ask dying people to participate in research?

  11. Organizational/Procedural Challenges • Good eol measures hard to find • Balancing “agendas” & priorities • university – community agency • Commitment & incentive

  12. Uncontrollable Challenges • Collaborator availability • Participants’ illnesses • Initial knowledge limitations

  13. Next Steps • Data Analysis for Group #1 • Content • Process • Outcomes • Implement Group #2 • Revisit student involvement • Dissemination

  14. What I’ve Learned Managing a project off-site is less than ideal…but doable if: • Everyone involved agrees to goals • Everyone involved understands their role • Everyone involved commits to their part in reaching those goals • Everyone involved benefits

  15. What I’ve Learned Practice research is time intensive…but limited time can be maximized by: • Establishing realistic goals at the start • Anticipating obstacles - and solutions • Insuring incentives for all involved

  16. References for Measures • Morasso, G., Costantini, M., Borreani, C., & Capelli, M. (1996). Assessing psychological distress in cancer patients. Validation of a self-administered questionnaire. Oncology, 53(4), 295-302. • Osobo, D., Rodrigues, G., Myles, J. et al. (1998). Interpreting the significance of health-related quality of life scores. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 16, 139-144 • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. • http://www.facit.org

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