title: Consumer empowerment and self-advocacy outcomes in a randomized study of peer-led education.
abstract: This study examined the effectiveness of the Building Recovery of Individual Dreams and Goals (BRIDGES) peer-led education intervention in empowering mental health consumers to become better advocates for their own care. A total of 428 adults with mental illness were randomly assigned to BRIDGES (intervention condition) or a services as usual wait list (control condition). Interviews were conducted at enrollment, at the end of the intervention, and 6-months post-intervention. Random regression results indicate that, compared to controls, BRIDGES participants experienced significant increases in overall empowerment, empowerment-self-esteem, and self-advocacy-assertiveness, and maintained these improved outcomes over time. Peer-led education interventions may provide participants with the information, skills and support they need to become more actively involved in the treatment decision-making process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612, USA. pickett@psych.uic.edu
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pickett
authors.forename: Sita M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Diehl
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Steigman
authors.forename: Joy D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Prater
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shipley
authors.forename: Dennis D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Grey
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003256:Community Participation; D004325:Dreams; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010379:Peer Group; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013714:Tennessee; D055815:Young Adult