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Effectiveness of a Functional Literacy Program for Formerly Homeless Adults

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Literacy
Interventions
Behavioral: Usual Care Management Services
Behavioral: Functional Literacy Program
Registration Number
NCT03580915
Lead Sponsor
Columbia University
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess a functional literacy program for formerly homeless adults now residing in supported housing who have difficulty performing daily life skills requiring functional literacy (e.g., bill paying, medication management, community transportation) needed to maintain housing placements. The hypothesis is that intervention group participants will improve in functional literacy compared to the control group that does not receive the intervention.

Detailed Description

Sixty-five percent of homeless adults are reported to be illiterate or marginally literate. The lack of literacy in a high technological society negatively impacts this population's ability to participate in daily life activities including finding and maintaining employment, renting and maintaining an apartment, seeking health care, using public transportation, and managing finances. Poor literacy marginalizes this population from societal participation and maintains this group in a state of lack and deficiency.

A literacy program will be delivered to participants who are formerly homeless and now residing in supported shelter. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention (n=20) or control (n=20) group. The intervention group will receive the functional literacy intervention over 8 weeks, twice weekly. Intervention sessions will allow participants to learn literacy skills within the context of real-life daily activities like grocery shopping, preparing a meal, and purchasing subway cards. Control group participants will not receive intervention.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
23
Inclusion Criteria
  • Resident of a supported shelter environment (after homelessness)
  • Self-reported difficulty with basic reading skills needed to participate in desired daily life activities
  • English-speaking
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Severe behavioral management disorder that would make cooperation and direction following problematic
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Functional Literacy ControlUsual Care Management ServicesThe control group will not receive intervention but the Usual Care Management Services.
Functional Literacy InterventionFunctional Literacy ProgramThe intervention group will receive the functional literacy program in which, in small groups, participants learn literacy skills in the context of daily life activities such as shopping, meal preparation, and transportation use.
Functional Literacy InterventionUsual Care Management ServicesThe intervention group will receive the functional literacy program in which, in small groups, participants learn literacy skills in the context of daily life activities such as shopping, meal preparation, and transportation use.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) score1-week post-intervention

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) is a 5-item, 10-point rating scale (1=most important, 10=least important) designed to be completed conjointly by a therapist and participant, and requires approximately 30 minutes to administer. The scale allows participants to identify and prioritize the most important problems impacting daily function and can be used with clients of all ages and diagnoses. Participants are asked to identify the five most critical problems impeding functional performance in the areas of self-care, productivity, and leisure. After the identification of five problems, participants are asked to rate both performance and satisfaction levels of the identified activities on a 10-point scale (1=not satisfied; 10=extremely satisfied). An open-ended narrative section is provided to allow therapists to record participant comments. The COPM is intended to be used pre- and post-intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Inventory of Reading Occupations (IRO) score1-week post-intervention

The IRO-Adult identifies reading materials from a list of 14 categories (e.g., financial records, federal/state aid documents, food and nutrition labels) that participants access as part of daily occupations. Two sections include Reading Categories (having 14 items) and Dimensions of Reading Participation (consisting of 5 dimensions with two open-ended questions and three 5-point Likert scale items; scores of 10+ = higher reading proficiency). For each client-identified reading category, participants are asked a series of questions about the 5 dimensions of reading participation: (1) reading material type; (2) frequency of access; (3) effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction; (4) importance of reading material in daily life; and (5) strategies and supports needed to access). The IRO-Adult descriptively assesses participants' relative mastery (effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction) in functional literacy in relation to occupational participation.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Columbia University Medical Center

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

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