Measuring Working Alliance and Technical Alliance from the Perspective of Healthcare Professionals Working with People with Mild Intellectual Disabilities: Adaptation, Factor Structure and Reliability

Overview

Journal J Intellect Disabil Res

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2022 Nov 2

PMID 36320102

Authors

C E M Oudshoorn

N Frielink

H Riper

P J C M Embregts

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The establishment of a valuable and meaningful working alliance between people with mild intellectual disabilities (IDs) and healthcare professionals is critically important for improving both the quality of life and impact of therapy for people with mild IDs. Measuring the working alliance as a treatment or support component is therefore of utmost relevance. In light of the increased use of eHealth tools, it is also essential to measure the alliance using these tools, which is referred to as technical alliance. There was a lack of validation of these two measurements for healthcare professionals working with people with mild IDs, which this study sought to address.

Method: Both the validated Working Alliance Inventory - Short Form - MID (WAI-SF-MID) and Technical Alliance Inventory - Short Form - MID (TAI-SF-MID) for general patient populations were adapted for healthcare professionals working with people with mild IDs. A two-step approach was conducted to systematically adapt both measurements with an expert group of healthcare professionals. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test a three-factor structure for both the WAI-SF-MID (N = 199) and the TAI-SF-MID (N = 139), and internal consistency was determined for both scales.

Results: An acceptable-to-good model fit was found for both the WAI-SF-MID and the TAI-SF-MID; confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a three-factor model for both measurements. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega were excellent for both total scales (≥0.90) and acceptable to good for sub-scales of both versions.

Conclusion: Both the WAI-SF-MID and the TAI-SF-MID are promising measurements for determining healthcare professionals' perspective on the (digital) working alliance with people with mild IDs.

Citing Articles

Acceptance and Use of eHealth in Support and Psychological Therapy for People With Intellectual Disabilities: Two Cross-Sectional Studies of Health Care Professionals.

Oudshoorn C, Frielink N, Riper H, Embregts P JMIR Form Res. 2024; 8():e52788.

PMID: 39531275 PMC: 11599880. DOI: 10.2196/52788.

Validation of the Working Alliance Inventory- Short Form for Patient (WAI-S-P) in Peruvian Adults.

Ramos-Vera C, Sanchez-Villena A, Calle D, Calizaya-Milla Y, Saintila J Patient Prefer Adherence. 2023; 17:2365-2376.

PMID: 37780484 PMC: 10540858. DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S422733.

Measuring working alliance and technical alliance from the perspective of healthcare professionals working with people with mild intellectual disabilities: adaptation, factor structure and reliability.

Oudshoorn C, Frielink N, Riper H, Embregts P J Intellect Disabil Res. 2022; 67(1):49-63.

PMID: 36320102 PMC: 10092498. DOI: 10.1111/jir.12986.

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