Working it out: development and testing of a multimedia, vocational education program

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Psychoeducation

Background:

• Clients in substance dependency treatment often face employment challenges.
• Psychoeducational interventions can support vocational rehabilitation.
• Interactive multimedia formats may enhance information delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a CD-ROM-based psychoeducational intervention, "Working It Out," for improving employment functioning in clients undergoing substance dependency treatment.
• To compare the effectiveness of a computer-based intervention with traditional printed materials.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 194 clients with employment concerns in six treatment programs.
• Participants were assigned to either a CD-ROM-based intervention or printed material.
• Employment indices were evaluated at baseline and 6 months post-intervention.

Main Results:

• A significant main effect for improvement was observed across both groups on employment indices.
• No significant interaction between condition and time was found, indicating similar effectiveness in improving employment.
• The CD-ROM-based program received significantly higher satisfaction ratings compared to the print material.

Conclusions:

• Clients with substance dependency are capable of utilizing vocational rehabilitation information presented in various formats.
• While both formats yielded comparable improvements in employment functioning, the interactive multimedia approach was preferred by users.
• The "Working It Out" program demonstrates potential for enhancing employment outcomes in this population.