Recovery Assessment Scale - Domains & Stages (RAS-DS)

Abstract

The RAS-DS has been developed from the original RAS (Gifford, Corrigan et al.). The RAS was selected originally because it had stronger psychometric properties that any other recovery-based instrument. As you can see from our published work, after testing, we found two main problems with the original instrument: poor category structure (consumers were not using the 5 point scale as expected) and a very significant ceiling effect (it was too easy for many consumers and lacked items relating to the later stage of recovery). We used focus groups with consumers who reported being further along their recovery journey to identify 'missing' items. We are currently trialling the RAS-DS with 3 large CMOs in NSW and QLD and one NSW health district. This is a 2 stage study so that we can evaluate its sensitivity to change. In Stage 1 consumers completed the RAS-DS and both consumer and staff member were then asked to complete a questionnaire about its usefulness. Given the poverty of all current recovery measures, the RAS-DS looks incredibly promising. However, it is still in testing stage. We would argue very strongly that while new recovery measures are repeatedly being created internationally, minimal work has been done on them after the initial development stage where they show moderate measurement properties at best. There are obvious reasons for this - when an instrument is modified, it becomes essentially a new (but better informed) instrument and new testing is needed. However, the dividends are clear. Through the long term, iterative process we have engaged in, we have developed what we feel, consumers are saying, and data is indicating, will be a far more superior measure of recovery than exists globally! Please contact Nicola Hancock (Nicola.hancock@sydney.edu.au) for further details and updates.