title: Effectiveness of college students in an incentive community program for chronic hospitalized patients.
abstract: The study describes and assesses an incentive community program implemented by college students for all of the chronic hospitalized patients living in a locked ward. Behavioral ratings of ward behavior and discharge rates were significantly higher for the experimental than for matched control patients. Bed-wetting was eliminated in 70% of the bed-wetting patients. Students rated the incentive community program more effective in changing the behavior of patients than students' ratings of a case-aide program. No differences in patient behaviors were found between the incentive community and case-aide program.
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004775:Enuresis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design; D012201:Reward; D012919:Social Behavior; D013334:Students; D014040:Token Economy