Development of a tool to measure therapeutic factors in group process.

A tool, the Therapeutic Group Interaction Factors Scale (TGIF), was developed for systematically and objectively measuring the extent to which therapeutic factors defined by Yalom are present or absent in group process. Preliminary findings suggest that the TGIF is relatively easy to learn and use by coders who are familiar with Yalom's work. Once this tool has been further developed and tested, it will permit nurses and other therapists who lead/facilitate therapeutic groups to study the relationship between Yalom's factors and therapeutic outcomes objectively, rather than by asking patients to evaluate the contribution of each factor subjectively.