Goal planning: a retrospective audit of rehabilitation process and outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To consider the effectiveness of a goal planning programme for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and address some of the current evidence gaps in goal setting.


METHODS
Retrospective audit.


METHODS
Consecutive series of 65 newly injured SCI patients.


METHODS
The Needs Assessment Checklist (NAC) has been specifically developed for the SCI population, and is used to assess patient attainment in core rehabilitation areas. A 'Goal Planning Progress' form was also used to specifically detail the goal planning process.


RESULTS
Across the 65 patients, 396 goal planning meetings were held with 6176 goals set in total. Seventy-two per cent of the goals set at the first goal planning meeting were achieved by the second meeting. The rate of achievement at subsequent meetings was 68%. Significant differences in the number of planned rehabilitation days, number of goal planning meetings, and goals set were identified between injury categories. Significant positive correlations were found between the number of goals set and achievement, as measured by the NAC, in certain rehabilitation domains.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study demonstrate that the Needs Assessment and Goal Planning framework is effective in planning SCI rehabilitation. The capacity of this goal planning system to reflect individual need has also been established. Further systematic analyses of this process could potentially lead to more efficient rehabilitation and the identification of care pathways within clinical areas.
Duff
Jane
J
Department of Clinical Psychology, The National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust, Mandeville Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP21 8AL, UK. jane.duff@smh.nhs.uk
Evans
Matthew J
MJ
Kennedy
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome