Enhancing immune health literacy and behaviors among people with psychiatric disabilities - the university of illinois at chicago center on mental health services research and policy, in partnership…

Enhancing immune health literacy and behaviors among people with psychiatric disabilities - the university of illinois at chicago center on mental health services research and policy, in partnership with collaborative support programs of new jersey and key stakeholders, will conduct a randomized controlled trial study of an immune health literacy and self-management intervention called enhancing your immune health. This three-year project is directly responsive to the health and function outcome area detailed in nidilrr's long-range plan (FY 2018-2023). The goal of the study is to assess whether and how the intervention impacts study participants' self-reported immune health and overall health, along with their health behaviors, health practices, and emotional well-being. The objectives of this study are to: 1) enroll 100 persons with psychiatric disabilities; 2) deliver the intervention to randomly selected participants; 3) collect and analyze outcome and demographic data; and 4) share study results with the field. Anticipated outcomes assessed at baseline, immediate post-intervention, and 6-months post-intervention include: 1) better immune health and better general health, 2) greater competence in health self-management, 3) greater ability to advocate with health care providers, 4) greater improvement in diet and exercise, 5) lower levels of stress, and 6) greater coping mastery and lower levels of depression and anxiety. The expected products are: 1) publications in a peer-reviewed journal; 2) presentations at national conferences and university classes; 3) social media posts sharing study results and access to the intervention; and 4) further development of an evidence-based immune health literacy and self-management curriculum for adults with psychiatric disabilities that is available to the field free of charge.