PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P C Duker

Publications and source records attributed to P C Duker.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

An inventory method for assessing the degree of restraint imposed by others.

An inventory for assessing the degree of mechanical restraint imposed by others to prevent individuals from inflicting physical injuries to themselves or to others, the Imposed Mechanical Restraint Inventory (IMRI), was developed. The inventory was administered to pairs of residential direct-care staff members to assess 113 individuals with mental retardation who showed self-injurious behavior while various sorts of mechanical restraint were imposed on them. The results indicate that the inventory showed acceptable levels of interobserver reliability, intraobserver reliability, and accuracy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Meta-analytic study on treatment effectiveness for problem behaviors with individuals who have mental retardation.

Meta-analysis of 482 empirical studies on treatment of problem behaviors of individuals with mental retardation was conducted. A metric of treatment effectiveness was computed for 1,451 comparisons between baselines and treatments, 34 topographies of problem behavior, and 64 treatment procedures. Analysis of variance with percentage of nonoverlapping data as the dependent variable and comparison as the basic unit of analysis revealed that treatment of externally destructive behaviors had significantly lower mean percentage of nonoverlapping data scores than did treatment of socially disruptive and internally maladaptive behaviors. Response contingent procedures were significantly more effective than were other procedures. No significant interactions were found. Results of a stepwise regression showed that only performing a functional analysis made a significant contribution. These results may lead to more objective assignment of treatment procedures to problem behaviors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Increasing on-task behaviour through interruption-prompting.

This study was designed to assess the effects of response-contingent interruption-prompting of stereotypic behaviour on on-task behaviour, inactivity and inappropriate behaviour. Also, the relationship between these behaviours was investigated. Five individuals with severe intellectual disability and autism participated. Data were collected within a reversal design. The results showed a statistically significant increase of on-task behaviour when interruption-prompting of stereotypic behaviour was in effect. Inactivity was statistically related to inappropriate behaviour. In terms of the continuous effort to identify procedures that are least intrusive for the client to attain behaviour improvement, it is suggested that interruption-prompting of stereotypic behaviour may be a reasonable choice for practicians.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Acquisition and generalization of social behaviors in language-disabled deaf adolescents.

In the present study, two experiments were conducted in which the effectiveness of a training package was assessed on the acquisition and generalization of five social behaviors with language-disabled and severe language-disabled deaf adolescents. The training package encompassed modeling, self-monitoring, self-reinforcement, and mediator-directed supervision and feedback. Procedures to promote generality of effects and social validity of the procedures were used as well. Target behaviors were Initiating Interaction, Turn Waiting, Keeping to the Subject, Communicating Orally, and Using Correct Sentences. Data were collected within a multiple baseline design across behaviors. Results indicated that the training package was effective in improving the performance of all participants. However, increases in percentage of appropriate target behaviors were more substantial for the language-disabled deaf adolescents than for the severely language-disabled deaf adolescents. Maintenance of effects was demonstrated as well.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

The use of negative practice for the control of pica behavior.

The treatment of a 33-year-old female disabled by mental retardation and Prader-Willi syndrome who exhibited pica is described. Negative practice was administered following each occurrence of the target behavior, that is, biting off and chewing on inedible objects. Data were collected within a reversal design. The results indicated that pica was reduced to a near zero level. Follow-up data collected after 7 months while the procedure was continued revealed a sustained suppression of pica.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Acquisition and generalization of social behaviors in language-disabled deaf children.

In the present study, the effectiveness of a multifaceted training package on the acquisition and generalization of three social behaviors--initiating interaction, interacting with others, and turn waiting--was assessed with nine 12- and 13-year-old language-disabled deaf children. The package included (1) child training and (2) supervision, feedback, and goal-setting by teachers and residential staff members. Steps were taken to promote generality of the effects and the social validity of the procedures. Data were collected within a multiple baseline design across behaviors. Visual inspection and statistical analysis showed that instances of appropriate target behaviors increased and were generalized across settings, activities, and subjects during the training procedure and that the effects were maintained following training.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Development of diurnal bladder control in severely and profoundly mentally handicapped residents.

At two time points, separated by an interval of 7 years, the level of diurnal bladder control of 198 severely and profoundly mentally handicapped individuals was assessed. A slight, but statistically significant increase of bladder control between the two time points was found. Difference scores of level of control were submitted to an ANOVA. Age at admission and duration of institutionalization proved to be related to individuals' level of diurnal bladder control. The results were discussed in relation to the use of toilet training procedures with mentally handicapped individuals.

Circadian Rhythm↗
PubMed1992

Effects of a multifaceted training procedure on the acquisition and generalization of social behaviors in language-disabled deaf children.

Effects of a multifaceted training procedure were assessed on the acquisition and generalization of social behaviors with 9 language-disabled deaf children. The training procedure consisted of (a) child training and (b) supervision, feedback, and goal setting directed by teachers and residential staff. Target behaviors were turn waiting, initiating interaction, and interacting with others. Procedures to promote generality of effects and to determine the social validity of the procedures were used. Data were collected within a multiple baseline design across behaviors. Results showed a functional relationship between introduction of the training procedure and increases in percentage of appropriate target behaviors for all 9 children. The effects were maintained throughout a 5- to 10-week follow-up period.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Inducing variability in communicative gestures used by severely retarded individuals.

Handicapped individuals who have been taught spontaneous gesture requests often use only a small part of their vocabulary. Procedures to recover the unused part of this vocabulary have not been documented. This study was designed to identify procedures for increasing the proportion of gestures used spontaneously. Six mentally handicapped individuals served as subjects. After a baseline phase during which spontaneous gesture requests were reinforced, consequences were withheld for high-rate gesture requests. This led to an increase in different gesture requests. Although gesture requests did not return to baseline levels during a reversal condition, functional control was demonstrated by way of a multiple baseline across subjects. The absence of a reversal effect suggests enduring effects of the procedure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Occupational conditions of ward staff and quality of residential care for individuals with mental retardation.

Effects of occupational conditions of ward staff on the quality of residential care for individuals with mental retardation was assessed. Three questions were asked: (a) Does type of contract under which staff members are employed differentially affect their distribution of activities? (b) Does length of duty have an effect on their distribution of activities? (c) Does the number of staff members present on the living group influence quality of care? Over a 40-week period, data were collected on 30 ward staff members who were responsible for 39 residents with severe and profound mental retardation. Results show that staff differentially distributed their activities, especially with respect to organizational activities and the amount of custodial care, depending on the type of contract they were employed under and the number of consecutive days they worked. Number of staff present on the living group appeared to be a major factor in terms of distribution of activities. Implications for staff managers and administrators of residential facilities were discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Effects of redesigning the physical environment on self-stimulation and on-task behavior in three autistic-type developmentally disabled individuals.

A study was conducted to assess the effects of redesigning the physical environment (i.e., the classroom) on the occurrence of self-stimulation, on-task behavior, inappropriate behavior, and inactivity. Three developmentally disabled males, diagnosed as autistic-type, participated. Data were collected using a withdrawal design. Results showed a decrease of self-stimulation and inactivity and an increase of on-task behavior. Inappropriate behavior remained unchanged across experimental conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Analysis of ward staff initiatives towards mentally retarded residents: clues for intervention.

Traditionally, efforts to improve the quality of residential care for the mentally retarded are focused on modifying particular ward staff behaviours. Several studies suggest, however, that ward staff behaviours are, at least partly, controlled by certain resident behaviours. This study investigated the relationship between resident behaviour and resident directed initiatives by ward staff. Recording occurred on four living groups with 39 residents during 32 weeks on the average for each group. Pearson product-moment correlations revealed that residents' level of ambulation, waking state, looking behaviours, adaptive-, maladaptive- and stereotype behaviours were related to the amount and quality of resident directed initiatives. The results suggest that modifying certain resident behaviours might offer a fruitful strategy for improving residential care for mentally retarded individuals.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1986

Determinants of maladaptive behavior of institutionalized mentally retarded individuals.

The maladaptive behavior of 474 persons from a residential facility for mentally retarded individuals was investigated. Eleven independent variables pertaining to demographic and environmental characteristics were initially related to the frequency and topography of residents' maladaptive behavior. Multiple regression analysis revealed that maladaptive behaviors were related to sex, social age, chronological age, resident's time spent on outside activities, number of residents per direct-care staff member, presence of sensory handicaps, and ambulation. Results were related to existing literature and discussed in terms of their use for intervention efforts and differential assignment of resources.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1986

Effects of a supervisory treatment package on staff-mentally retarded resident interactions.

Effects of scheduled activities vs. scheduled activities and supervision on staff-mentally retarded resident interactions were investigated. After baseline, scheduled activities that provided fixed times for resident training, custodial care, recreational activities, and organizational and house-keeping activities was instituted. Further, a supervision package was in effect consisting of (a) self-recording and public posting, (b) daily staff meetings, and (c) feedback and prompting. After a return to scheduled activities alone, the treatment was reinstated. Results showed that a supervision package (added to scheduled activities) produced a statistically significant decrease in the time that ward staff spent on custodial care as well as off-task and an increase in time engaged in training of residents. Follow-up measures taken while the treatment was still in effect affirmed the stability of the results.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

A program to increase manual signs with severely/profoundly mentally retarded students in natural environments.

A classroom teacher and 12 residential staff members were taught to increase the opportunities for manual sign use with three severely/profoundly mentally retarded students, to use those opportunities for asking the students to sign-request, and, if necessary, to provide prompts. A multi-faceted package consisting of written instructions, modeling, video presentation, visual cueing, feedback, and group discussion was used in a multiple-baseline design across situations. During intervention, (a) the number of opportunities for sign use increased in both classroom situations but remained stable on the ward, (b) the number of signs made by the students in response to the question increased across each of the situations, and (c) the number of spontaneously emitted signs increased.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Acquisition and cross-setting generalization of manual signs with severely retarded individuals.

In this study, we assessed the effect of a transfer of stimulus control procedure on the acquisition and cross-setting generalization of manual signs with four profoundly retarded individuals. Two individuals were trained to produce appropriate signs to verbal instructions, whereas the other two were trained until manual signs were controlled by visual stimuli (objects). Data obtained from three probe situations (two for one individual) constituted the dependent variables of the investigation. The results, gathered within a multiple-baseline design across signs showed that individuals acquired the trained signs and maintenance and generalization across settings (classroom, ward) and persons (teachers, ward staff) occurred, but was highly variable between and within individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Cross-setting generalization of manual signs to verbal instructions with severely retarded children.

This study assessed the effects of a procedure of transfer of stimulus control on the cross-setting generalization of manual signs with three severely retarded children. The procedure was designed in order to have the subjects perform appropriate signs to verbal instructions. The dependent variables consisted of manual sign responses at probe sessions in the classroom and on the ward to assess generalization of training across settings and persons, as well as the percentage correct verbal imitations of instructions used during training. The results, gathered within a multiple baseline design across responses show that: Performance of manual signs to verbal instructions generalized across settings, yet acquired signs did not facilitate S's production of the appropriate referent within a verbal imitation paradigm. The importance of choosing appropriate signs is emphasized.

Adolescent↗