A problem-oriented assessment procedure for individual program planning and evaluation

This article describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of an assessment procedure for use in a psychiatric day therapy setting. The assessment procedure, which incorporates a behavioural problem-oriented approach, serves as a basis for individual program planning with day patients, and provides data for program evaluation purposes. Evaluation of the assessment procedure indicated satisfaction among staff and clients with the process and results of collecting assessment information. Overall, it was concluded that the original objectives guiding development of the assessment procedure had been achieved. The purpose of this paper is to describe an assessment procedure developed for use in a day therapy program associated with a 30-bed psychiatric unit in a general hospital. The procedure, which provides a basis for individual program planning as well as program evaluation, was devised in response to staff concerns about the functioning of the day program. Since the assessment procedure was designed, in part, to meet the requirements of staff working in a generic day therapy psychiatric program, it was thought that it might be of interest to others working in similar settings.