The Evolution and Evaluation of a Therapeutic Recreation Cottage Program for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury

Authors

  • Sander L. Hitzig
  • Charlene Alton
  • Niclole Leong
  • Katherine Gatt

Keywords:

Spinal cord injuries, therapeutic recreation, program evaluation, self-esteem, self-efficacy, affect

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute’s (University Health Network) Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program (SCRP) Cottage Program, which is a unique outdoor experiential therapy (OET) intervention for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). The outcomes illustrate the evolution of a therapeutic recreation (TR) program, and the development and implementation of a program evaluation framework. Over time, the SCRP Cottage Program has evolved from a small, one-day TR unstructured program to a large four-day structured inter-professional OET. For the evaluation component, a pre-posttest survey design was employed with participants with SCI who attended the cottage program (n = 14) and with a control group (n = 7). Cottage participants completed surveys on their goals and satisfaction with the program, while both groups completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale and the Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale. Positive affect and self-efficacy increased over time in cottage participants, but not for controls. Overall, participants were highly satisfied with the cottage program. The findings provide a model for the development and evaluation of an OET aimed at improving well-being following SCI.

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Published

2012-09-24

Issue

Vol. 46 No. 3 (2012): Special Issue Part I: Collaborative Practices and Physical Activity

Section

Research Papers

License

Sagamore Publishing LLC (hereinafter the “Copyright Owner”)

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