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ACQUISITION AND MAINTENANCE OF HEALTH‐CARE ROUTINES AS A FUNCTION OF FEEDBACK DENSITY
Author(s) -
Alavosius Mark P.,
SulzerAzaroff Beth
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1901/jaba.1990.23-151
Subject(s) - schedule , psychology , observational study , health care , service (business) , function (biology) , applied psychology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , computer science , medicine , pathology , evolutionary biology , economics , biology , economic growth , operating system , economy
Two schedules of feedback were examined to determine their relative effects on the acquisition and maintenance of three health‐care routines: feeding, positioning, and transferring physically disabled patients. Four direct service providers' performances in the natural environment were measured weekly. Concurrent schedules and multiple baselines across subjects and response classes were used to evaluate the effects of written instructions combined with either continuous, intermittent, or no‐feedback schedules. Results showed that instructions alone led to slight and usually brief changes. Marked improvements were noted after feedback was introduced, with the continuous schedule producing more rapid acquisition. Follow‐up measures indicated performance maintenance for both schedules. Subjects rated the feedback programs favorably and recommended provision of this service to co‐workers. Cost estimates indicated that, although considerable time was spent developing the observational system, the feedback procedure was relatively inexpensive, easy to use, and did not interfere with patient care.