Evaluation of the group intervention “Let’s Get Organized” for improving time management, organisational, and planning skills in people with mild intellectual disability

Abstract

Background

Limited time management skills cause problems in daily life for people with mild intellectual disability (ID) and “Let’s Get Organized” (LGO) is a promising manual-based occupational therapy group intervention aiming to support management skills.

Aims/Objectives

To evaluate the applicability of the Swedish version of LGO-S by i) exploring enhancements in time management skills, satisfaction with daily occupations, and aspects of executive functioning in people with time-management difficulties and mild ID, and ii) describing clinical experiences of using the LGO-S for people with mild ID.

Material and methods

Twenty-one adults with mild ID were included. Data were collected pre-/post-intervention and at 3- and 12-month follow-ups with: Swedish version of Assessment of Time Management Skills (ATMS-S), Satisfaction with Daily Occupation (SDO-13), and Weekly Calendar Planning Activity (WCPA-SE). There were few follow-up participants (n = 6-9).

Results

Significant change in time management skills that maintained at 12-months follow-ups. Significant increase in regulation of emotions at 12-month follow-up. Results at 12-months follow-up indicated sustainability in outcomes as measured by ATMS-S. A non-significant positive trend was observed in other outcomes between pre- and post-intervention.

Conclusions and significance

LGO-S seems applicable for improving skills in time management, organisation and planning also for people with mild ID.

Keywords:

• Daily time management
• inclusion
• participation
• satisfaction with daily occupations

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the participants and to the occupational therapists who collected the data and led the intervention groups in this study.

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was financially supported by the Centre for Clinical Research Dalarna, Sweden and the Regional Research Council in Mid Sweden. The translation of the LGO intervention was supported by the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists and the Regional Research Council in Mid Sweden.