Effect of counselor training on skills development and psychosocial status of volunteers with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Volunteers with systemic lupus erythematosus were recruited for a telephone service to provide psychosocial support to peers. The volunteers attended an 8-week counselor training program. The aim was to evaluate the impact of the training on counselors' skill development and to record possible changes in the counselors' psychosocial status. A second group of trainees (n = 15) was used as a delayed control for the first group (n = 14). The data were analyzed using multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance. Tests chosen to monitor psychosocial status included: Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales Anxiety and Depression subscales, Arthritis Helplessness Index, Wallston General Self-Efficacy Scale, University of California at Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem, and Campbell Personal Competence scales. Tests selected to measure skills and knowledge.