Article

The ABC method is a basic and simplified form of behavioural modification therapy
for use by nurses. ABC refers to the identification of Antecedent events, target
Behaviours, and Consequent events. A single-case experimental AB design was used
to evaluate the effects of the ABC method on a woman diagnosed with
olivo-ponto-cerebellar ataxia. Target behaviour was verbal aggressive behaviour
during ADL care, assessed at 9 time points immediately before implementation of
the ABC method and at 36 time points after implementation.
A randomisation test
showed a significant treatment effect between the baseline and intervention
phases (t = .58, p = .03; ES [Nonoverlap All Pairs] = .62). Visual analysis,
however, showed that the target behaviour was still present after implementation
of the method and that on some days the nurses even judged the behaviour to be
more severe than at baseline. Although the target behaviour was still present
after treatment, the ABC method seems to be a promising tool for decreasing
problem behaviour in patients with acquired brain injury. It is worth
investigating the effects of this method in future studies.
When interpreting
single-subject data, both visual inspection and statistical analysis are needed
to determine whether treatment is effective and whether the effects lead to
clinically desirable results.

Langue : ANGLAIS