Evaluation of a consumer-personal assistant training project.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated a personal assistance services (PAS) training programme that aimed to improve the consumer and personal assistant relationship and increase consumer and personal assistant knowledge on health and wellness issues.


METHODS
A total of 87 consumers and 53 personal assistants were enrolled in this longitudinal intervention study. Consumers and personal assistants in the intervention group participated in a six-hour in-person PAS training programme.


RESULTS
Consumers and personal assistants who participated in the training had increased knowledge at both three and six months post-training compared to consumers and personal assistants who were in the non-treatment group. There were no differences in consumer/personal assistant relationship variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Future studies should examine the impact of PAS training programmes on health behaviours needed to decrease secondary conditions.
Schopp
Laura H
LH
Department of Health Psychology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA. SchoppL@health.missouri.edu
Clark
Mary J
MJ
Hagglund
Kristofer J
KJ
Mokelke
Emily K
EK
Stout
Brian J
BJ
Mazurek
Micah O
MO
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D018576:Home Health Aides / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006704:Homemaker Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010548:Personal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation