Introduction
Directions for the Administrator
The Assisted Rating version of the Quality Impact Assessment Tool (QIAT-AD) is designed to be administered with the assistance of a staff member who does not normally work with the participant. The staff member assisting the participant to respond to the items in the QIAT-AD engages with them in a conversation about the meaning of each item before assisting them to indicate a decision. There are three stages in the process:
- AR1 Orientation: Perception of Fact: This prompt is designed to open up a discussion about the topic that is the focus of the item. It can take as long as needed, and the examples provided can be used to assist understanding. Once, it is clear that the participant has an understanding of the content of the item, the administrator moves on to the next prompt.
- AR2 Need to Improve Current Status: This prompt provides an opportunity to discuss with the participant what they do and what they would like to do better. Once again, as much time as is required can be assigned to this item. When the administrator believes that the participant has been fully oriented towards the content of the item, they can proceed to the formal question.
- AR3 Extent to which the service has helped the person to learn how to do this: This question is intended to provide an indication of how the participant feels about what the service is doing for them in relation to the activity or area of quality of life which is the focus of the item.
It is important for the administrator to be aware that only the answers to AD2 and AD3 are used in generating a score for an item.
The scales for AR2 and AR3 have two primary options 1=No and 2=Yes. These are also indicated with a thumbs-up symbol for ‘Agree’ and a thumbs-down symbol for ‘Disagree’.
The person administering the questionnaire can support the decision-making process by also using the thumbs-up 
and thumbs-down 
gestures or allowing the participant to point to the option on the response template during the administration.
There are also options for specifying that the participant:
- Does not know – 3=DK, I don’t know
- Or that the item was not relevant 4=Not Important
The DK option should be used when the participant indicates that they are unsure or when the participant clearly does not understand an item despite all the decision support provided by the administrator.
If a participant needs additional support, you can use the standard examples that can be accessed by clicking on the 
icon.
If the administrator develops the impression that the participant is challenged in understanding a number of the items in a single dimension, consideration needs to be given to using the proxy version of the QIAT.
Introduction for the Participant (The administrator can rephrase the wording below.)
Quality of Life is about how well you live your life.
For example:
- How well do you get on with the people in your local area?
- How happy are you that you can have what you need?
- Have you got all the things that you desire?
- Are you able to do all the things you wish to do?
The quality of your life is the result of the experiences you have when you interact with the people and places around you. You have goals and you expect things to happen. When they turn out well, you feel good about the quality of your life.
I am going to ask you some questions about the service you attend and you can tell me what you feel about them.
I will point out the areas that we are talking about on the map as we talk about them.
Here are the different areas. (Point and list the items in the figure)
- Individual Empowerment (Personal Development and Self-Determination).
- Social Participation & Active Inclusion (Interpersonal Relationships, Rights & Citizenship, Employability and Community Participation).
- Wellbeing (Emotional, Physical and Material).
Before we talk about an area, I will explain what it means and you can ask me about anything you would like to know.
Are you ready to begin?
On the next page, you will find more detailed directions for how to complete the questionnaire.
