Use of self-recording to maintain staff-resident interaction

The study was designed to increase levels of staff-resident interaction on a long-stay residential ward for mentally retarded women. Ward nursing staff implemented self-recording techniques to record behavioural training targets with individual residents. Targets included social and self-help skills, with long term goals of improved independent functioning and increased socialisation. Levels of physical contact, verbal interaction and appropriate target activities with residents showed a steady increase over a 3-month period, with no adverse effect upon levels of direct health care activities. The benefits of self-recording methods are discussed with reference to issues of maintenance and generalisation.