Project Shake-It-Up: Using health promotion, capacity building and a disability studies framework to increase self efficacy

Abstract

Purpose. Project Shake-It-Up provided a health promotion and capacity building program for individuals with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and related neurological impairments. Major research aims were to evaluate changes in participants' self-efficacy, ability to set/achieve goals, and perceived independent-living status.

Methods. Participants completed self-efficacy measures at baseline, program completion, 6- and 12-month follow-up, and set health and/or independent living goals. Progress toward goal attainment was monitored periodically and assessed qualitatively.

Results. There was a statistically significant difference in the change in self-efficacy scores for intervention participants compared to non-participants. Participants gained independent-living skills and confidence in their abilities to set and achieve a variety of goals, in the areas of education, employment, housing, transportation, accessing community resources and activities, participation in sports and leisure, and health promotion.

Conclusions. Researchers evaluated results using a disability studies framework of empowerment which recognizes the role of environment, gender, race/ethnicity, and social status in the experience of disability. Participants reported increased independence, community access, and participation. They took action in multiple arenas with changes observed and reported in areas of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and behavioral functioning that indicated greater personal empowerment.

Keywords:

• Health promotion
• advocacy
• self-efficacy

Acknowledgements

Project Shake-It-Up: Health Promotion and Capacity Building for Persons with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury and other Neuromuscular Disabilities was funded through the Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research CFDA Programme 84.133, Award No: H133G010094. Dawn Buckovinsky, Melissa Dour, Lauren Keltz, and Laura Moscowitz, assisted greatly with the literature review and qualitative data analysis sections of this paper. A number of key individuals and organisations made Project Shake-It-Up possible: PARI, Inc., Shake-A-Leg, Inc.; the Brown University Centre for Alcohol and Addiction Studies; the Rhode Island Department of Health Living Well with a Disability Programme; the Rhode Island Multiple Sclerosis Society; the RIDE Programme; Kristy Hart; Erin Bean; Matt Sullivan; Paul Choquette Don Churnick; Jeanne Panarace; Leo Canuel; Beth Bock; Bruce Becker; Linda Stein; and undergraduate volunteers Lisa Colaco, Leslie Koren, Johanna Chang, and Kiki Nin.

Notes

1. The authors are aware of critiques that problematize the notion of ‘independence’ as primarily western, and especially North American concept that does not accurately portray the complex interactions and interdependencies of community life [8,9]. However we have chosen to use the terms ‘independent living’ and ‘increased independence’ here, since they were frequently used both by project participants and CIL personnel as descriptors for a set of community-access goals achieved in concert with an independent living centre or as coming from an ‘independent living’ philosophy.

2. This and all subsequent names are pseudonyms.