title: Goal attainment scaling as a method of clinical service evaluation.
abstract: The demand for clinical accountability and the documentation of therapeutic effectiveness continues to increase in health-related settings. Therapists are attempting to address this increasing demand by adapting methods based on traditional experimental models of research to evaluate their clinical practice. Experimental and quasi-experimental designs, however, are often limited usefulness in clinical environments for a variety of practical and ethical reasons. This paper presents a method of evaluating the effectiveness of a therapeutic intervention called goal attainment scaling, which involves goal setting procedures and assessment techniques that are practice-based and practitioner-oriented. The procedures are presented and the argument made that goal attainment scaling is a viable method by which one can document therapeutic change and demonstrate clinical accountability.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Related Professions, State University of New York, Buffalo 14214.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ottenbacher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cusick
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000592:standards