Psychiatry

33rd Annual Harvey Stancer Research Day

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Interagency Partnership: Creating a Portuguese Language Residential Treatment Program
J. Silveira  D. James M. Benevides, K. Bindseil R. Pereira, C. Bartha  University Health Network, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Purpose: Evaluate patient outcomes and staff satisfaction in a novel Portuguese Language adaptation of a standard 21-day residential treatment program.

Interagency Partnership: Creating a Portuguese Language Residential Treatment Program
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Methods: A standard 21 day residential addictions treatment program was translated into the Portuguese language.  Adaptation was made to the delivery of the program to accommodate 2 externs delivering programming in spoken Portuguese under the guidance of English speaking expert staff.  Impact on English speaking staff was assessed qualitatively.  Portuguese speaking patient outcomes were measured using standard practice measures employed in English language cycles. Results: Regular full-time staff at CAMH, Brentcliffe site reported high job satisfaction in working with the Portuguese-speaking clients despite the language discordance.  Staff had a positive perception of the Portuguese-speaking clients using adjectives such as “respectful” and “grateful”.  Staff were willing to repeat the Portuguese language cycle.  Eleven Portuguese-speaking clients enrolled in the 21 day treatment program and 100% of clients completed the program.  Characteristics of the Portuguese speaking clients appear to differ from the overall population of residential treatment clients by being older, more likely to be employed, living with family, more likely to be married.  RAI and the BASIS 32 revealed extensive improvements particularly in the areas of social supports, social function and caregiver stress.   

Conclusions: A Portuguese language cycle in a standard mainstream 21 day residential treatment program is an important way of addressing lack of residential services for minority language groups and can be achieved while maintaining staff satisfaction and positive patient outcomes.

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