Validation of the Chinese Non-pharmacological Therapy Experience Scale in persons with intellectual disability.
Lily Yuen Wah Ho, Kenny Chi Wing Chin, Connie Yuen Yee Fung and 1 others
PMID 31871724WHAT IT FOUND
For people with intellectual disability who may not report their experience, a 7-point observer-rated Chinese scale detected score changes during horticultural therapy better than the 4-point version.
It is a monitoring tool, not proof that the therapy works.
Key findings
01The 7-point version showed score differences across sessions that the 4-point version did not.
02Raters agreed more consistently when using the 7-point version than the 4-point version.
03Item scores were more consistent on the 7-point version than on the 4-point version.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Convenience sampling from six hostels or centres means the sample may not represent all people with intellectual disability. The study included only adults with mild to severe intellectual disability, not profound disability, and all participants were single. Sensitivity to change was tested in only 59 participants who attended the 1st, 4th and 8th sessions. One rater had very low item consistency, and variation among 20 raters may still have occurred despite training. The researchers did not test stability over repeated identical measurements because each horticultural therapy session differed. The scale was validated during horticultural therapy, so its properties for other non-pharmacological therapies are not shown here.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that horticultural therapy improves experience because the 7-point scale detected score changes. This study validated an observer-rated measurement tool, not therapy efficacy, and the score changes could be influenced by session context, rater behaviour or participant condition.