title: Training direct care staff to increase positive interactions with individuals with developmental disabilities.
abstract: This study tested the effects of direct training on direct care staff's initiation of positive interactions with individuals with developmental disabilities who resided in an intermediate care facility. Participants included four direct care staff and their residents. Direct training included real-time prompts delivered via a one-way radio, and data were collected for immediate and sustained increases in rates of direct care staff's positive interactions. Additionally, this study evaluated the link between increased rates of positive interactions and concomitant decreases in residents' challenging behaviors. A multiple baseline design across participants was used and results indicated that all direct care staff increased their rates of positive interactions during direct training. Moreover, all but one participant continued to engage residents in positive interactions at levels above the criterion during the maintenance phase and follow-up phases. The direct care staff member who did not initially meet the criterion improved to adequate levels following one brief performance feedback session. With regard to residents' challenging behaviors, across phases, residents engaged in low levels of challenging behaviors making those results difficult to evaluate. However, improvements in residents' rate of positive interactions were noted.
authors.affiliation: The University of Southern Mississippi, United States. Electronic address: kimberlyzoder@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Zoder-Martell
authors.affiliation: The University of Southern Mississippi, United States.
authors.forename: Brad A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dufrene
authors.affiliation: The University of Southern Mississippi, United States.
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Tingstrom
authors.affiliation: The University of Southern Mississippi, United States.
authors.forename: D Joe
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Olmi
authors.affiliation: The University of Southern Mississippi, United States.
authors.forename: Sara S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.affiliation: Argosy University, United States.
authors.forename: Erika M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Biskie
authors.affiliation: The University of Southern Mississippi, United States.
authors.forename: Julie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000451:nursing*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations
keywords: Bug-in-ear; Consultation; Direct training; Positive interactions; Residential staff