HOUSE OF HOPE / STEPPING STONES
DRUG ATTITUDE SCALE ANALYSIS
JUNE 2011

The House of Hope and Stepping Stones is committed to continually improving our organization and service delivery to the persons served.  Data are collected and information is used to manage and improve service delivery.

One of the many mechanisms utilized to collect data is the Drug Attitude Scale. HOH / SS began testing this scale in 2004, working in conjunction with Dr. Stephen N. Campbell.  Dr. Campbell has provided the research in developing the Drug Attitude Scale which allows the professional the ability to quantify his or her clinical evaluation, making the assessment more objective and thorough.   Although Dr. Campbell has done extensive work on this tool, and written papers on the Outcomes, implementation at the HOH/SS is the first time testing was done on a large scale with this special population. 

The Drug Attitude Scale was developed to measure personal attitudes and behaviors associated with substance use and misuse.  It provides an effective means of finding individuals in the population who have poor attitudes towards drugs and alcohol (i.e. refused to acknowledge the dangers of illicit drugs).  The scale allows the professional the ability to quantify his or her clinical evaluation, making the assessment more objective and thorough.  One can expect an attitude change if treatment was effective.  The scale is utilized as a pre-test upon admission and a post-test as the individual enters their last month of treatment.

For the April through June quarter, this writer was provided with a total of 91 Pre Tests which represents 95% of the admissions for this period.  There were 32 Post Tests provided, which represents 76% of the individuals surveyed thirty (30) days prior to discharge during this quarter. 

Overall results for this quarter continues to show a trend in the right direction. 

SUMMARY

The purpose of this Drug Attitude Scale is to provide a means to measure the effectiveness of treatment through analyzing the pre-and post test attitudes and behaviors associated with substance use and misuse.  The information is collected to better understand how we are performing and to determine if we are meeting current and future needs of our residents. 

In order to provide the clinical team with the resident specific results, the form has been designed as a bound test using 2-part NCR paper.  Page 1 of the 2 part Pre Test will remain in the resident chart and utilized by the clinician to measure personal attitudes and behaviors associated with substance use and misuse in the Treatment Planning process.  Page 2 of the 2 part Post Test will remain in the resident chart and will provide a measure of attitude change indicating if treatment was effective, and used for Discharge Planning.

The results continue to show a trend in the right direction.  We will continue to review these findings to utilize the data to manage and improve service delivery

It is recommended that the Program Directors at both facilities review the Post Test process with the Clinical Team to improve the completion of the Post Test response rate. 

It is also recommended that the Drug Attitude Scale Analysis be presented to the Board of Trustees at the next meeting to advise of the progress made to date.  Determinations will be reported in the Board of Trustee meeting minutes.