title: A consecutive series of adults with brain injury treated with a washing and dressing retraining program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Single-case reports indicate that behavioral methods can assist persons with brain injury to redevelop self-care skills. However, the proportion of patients who could benefit from these interventions is unknown. The present study used a specific retraining protocol to treat all patients admitted to a single facility over a 3-year period who were unable to wash and dress independently.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four patients out of 48 met the study criteria and were treated with the washing and dressing protocol. Three had traumatic brain injury, and one had brain injury after cerebral bleed. The training program involved behavioral observation, task analysis, consistent practice, and cue fading. The Adaptive Behavior Scale was used to measure behavior change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three subjects achieved rapid independence in washing and dressing (20 days, 37 days, and 11 days of treatment), and one did not show significant clinical improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All patients admitted to the facility during a 3-year period who required washing and dressing retraining were treated with the same protocol. The consecutive series design prevented researchers from selecting patients who they believed were good treatment candidates; therefore, the findings support the general applicability of the training program.
authors.affiliation: Samuel Merritt College, Oakland, California, USA.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ridley
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dill
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frye
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001494:Baths; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003020:Clothing; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome