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Development and validation of the Needs in Recovery Assessment (NiRA): A clinical tool for assessing the needs of individuals recovering from a first episode of mental illness
Author(s) -
Davies Ellen L.,
Hooper Kenneth J.,
Pelentsov Lemuel J.,
Gordon Andrea L.,
Esterman Adrian J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.911
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1447-0349
pISSN - 1445-8330
DOI - 10.1111/inm.12697
Subject(s) - mental health , mental illness , scale (ratio) , usability , likert scale , needs assessment , content validity , psychology , descriptive statistics , applied psychology , service (business) , medicine , clinical psychology , psychometrics , psychiatry , computer science , developmental psychology , social science , statistics , physics , mathematics , economy , quantum mechanics , human–computer interaction , sociology , economics
Recovering from a first episode of mental illness entails unique challenges and often includes experiencing unmet needs. The availability of a formal, structured and valid means of assessing the needs of individuals recovering from a first episode of mental illness may improve mental health service delivery. This article describes the development of a new needs assessment tool, the Needs in Recovery Assessment (NiRA), and presents the results of processes used to validate the tool. The NiRA was developed using data collected in a previous literature review and focus groups with mental health service users. It contains three sections for the identification, prioritization, planning and re‐evaluation of a broad array of needs. It was presented in two workshops, where mental health service users and clinicians evaluated its validity, acceptability and usability. Items of need and the format of the NiRA were evaluated using Likert‐scale questions, open‐ended short answer and closed questions. Each item of need was evaluated for its validity by a panel of experts via an online survey. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data, including means, percentages and the Content Validity Index (CVI).Streiner and Kottner's scale development and testing guidelines were used in the reporting of this study. 48 items of need were evaluated as valid by mental health service users, clinicians and academics. Most items received an I‐CVI of greater than .93. The scale CVI/Avg was .96. The NiRA is perceived as a valid and acceptable tool for assessing the needs of people recovering from a first episode of mental illness.