title: Recovery Assessment Scale - Domains and Stages (RAS-DS): Its feasibility and outcome measurement capacity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A self-report instrument of mental health recovery is needed both to facilitate collaborative, recovery-oriented practice and measure recovery-focused outcomes. The Recovery Assessment Scale - Domains and Stages (RAS-DS) has been developed to simultaneously fulfill these goals. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility and measurement properties of the RAS-DS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Feasibility was examined by 58 consumer-staff pairs volunteering from 3 non-government organisations. Consumers completed the RAS-DS, discussed it with staff, and then both completed Usefulness Questionnaires. The psychometric properties were examined using Rasch analysis with the data from these consumer participants and from additional participants recruited from two Partners in Recovery programs (N=324).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 70% of consumers reported taking 15 minutes or less to complete the RAS-DS and rated the instrument as easy or very easy to use. Qualitative data from both consumers and staff indicated that, for most, the RAS-DS was an easy to use, meaningful resource that facilitated shared understandings and collaborative goal setting. However, for a very small number of consumers, the instrument was too confronting and hard to use. Rasch analysis demonstrated evidence for excellent internal reliability and validity. Raw scores were highly correlated with Rasch-generated overall scores and thus no transformation is required, easing use for clinicians. Preliminary evidence for sensitivity to change was demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide evidence of the feasibility and psychometric strengths of the RAS-DS. Although further research is required, the RAS-DS shows promise as a potential addition to the national suite of routine outcome measures.
authors.affiliation: The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia nicola.hancock@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.affiliation: The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Justin Newton
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Scanlan
authors.affiliation: The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Honey
authors.affiliation: The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Anita C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bundy
authors.affiliation: Richmond Fellowship of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Shea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Measure; feasibility; instrument development; mental illness; recovery