Patient behavior monitoring through self-reports

This research examined the accuracy of data obtained by a self-observation and report technique (SORT) developed to record patients' ongoing everyday behaviors, where the behaviors occur, whether aid is provided, and if so, by whom. Over 2 consecutive weeks 10 persons with recent spinal cord injuries hospitalized at a major rehabilitation center reported their behaviors during 8 half-day periods. Assessments of reporting accuracy compared self-reports with data recorded by independent observers. Minute-by-minute comparisons of self-report and independent observations indicated moderate levels of agreement. Weekly measures of performance derived from the 2 kinds of records showed high agreement. Reporting accuracy was relatively unaffected by the amount of time between the occurrence of a behavior and its report and the personal importance of various behaviors to the patients. The SORT provides a dependable, flexible and cost-efficient means for assessing what patients do on a day-to-day basis and it offers many options for monitoring patients' functional performance in rehabilitation.