The effect of anonymous vs. nonanonymous rating conditions on patient satisfaction and motivation ratings in a population of substance abuse patients.
Patient self-report in evaluations involving alcohol and other drug abuse has generally been found to be reliable and valid. However, little is known about the variables associated with greater or lesser degrees of reliability and validity. This study was conducted to determine how motivation and satisfaction ratings obtained under anonymous conditions would compare with ratings obtained under nonanonymous conditions. Over the course of 12 months, 1397 subjects in the Boston Target Cities Project were assigned to either confidential or fully anonymous data collection procedures in an interrupted time-series design. Anonymity had either no effect on ratings or accounted for < 1% of the variance. Satisfaction and motivation ratings obtained under confidential conditions are probably as reliable and valid as ratings obtained under fully anonymous conditions.
Leonhard
C
C
Addiction Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
Gastfriend
D R
DR
Tuffy
L J
LJ
Neill
J
J
Plough
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D003042:Cocaine; D003219:Confidentiality; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003042:Cocaine