Abstract
Primary objective: To test whether a curriculum-based advocacy training programme improves advocacy behaviour when compared to a matched group engaged in self-directed advocacy activities.Research design: Community-based randomized practical behavioural trial.Methods and procedures: Adults with moderate-severe TBI 1 or more years post-injury and their family members were recruited in Minnesota (4 years), Iowa and Wisconsin (each 3 years) and randomized into a curriculum-based or self-directed advocacy training group. Both groups met on the same day, at separate locations in the same city, once per month for 4 consecutive months.Main outcomes and results: Pre-post written and video testimony were rated using the Advocacy Behaviour Rating Scale (ABRS). Mean ABRS scores increased after intervention in both groups (curriculum n = 129, self-directed n = 128), but there was no significant difference in this increase between groups. When groups were combined, a significant pre-post improvement in mean ABRS scores was observed.Conclusions: Curriculum-based advocacy training was not superior to a self-directed approach in improving ABRS scores. A significant improvement in expression of an advocacy message was observed when intervention groups were combined. These findings suggest that bringing together like-minded motivated individuals is more important than programme structure or content in changing advocacy behaviour.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1530-1538 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Brain Injury |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 13-14 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 6 2015 |
Keywords
- Consumer advocacy
- government agencies
- local government
- patient advocacy
- rehabilitation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Neuroscience (miscellaneous)