ATMS a self-report of time management strategies to plan, manage and complete daily life activities.

What is it about?

Although the use of time management strategies is common among healthy adults, clients with severe mental illness (SMI) and/or substance related disorders (SRD) often benefit from group programs in which they learn and practice using such strategies to enhance their work performance, social commitments and organization of daily routines (Eklund, Leufstadius & Bejerholm, 2009; Precin, 1999; White, Meade, Hadar, 2007).While the ATMS considers the unique needs of the SMI/SRD populations, it can be used for any population to assess time management skills. The ATMS was designed to assess specific behaviors that support or interfere with the ability to consistently manage time effectively. It consists of 30 Likert scale questions regarding time management behaviors.

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Why is it important?

However, no standardized evaluation tools designed to evaluate time management interventions having demonstrated reliability and validity are available, although several tools have been used in studies looking at how clients use time (Krupa, Mclean, Estabrook, Bonham & Basksh, 2003; Precin, 1999; Solanto, Marks, Mitchell, Wasserstein & Kofman, 2008; Eklund, Leufstadius & Bejerholm, 2009). Some of these time use measurement tools include time-use diaries, experience sampling method, time use observations or surveys, and time geography; all commonly used research tools (Eklund et al, 2009). These tools capture the person’s life-style by describing time use for part of a day or for all 24 hours. These existing time-use tools do not capture the behaviors or concepts of strategy building nor describe how clients actively manage their time, e.g., prioritizing or using cognitive adaptors such as an appointment books. Thus, they are insufficient for evaluating the behavioral changes expected to result from a well designed time management intervention.

Perspectives