ABSTRACT
The effectiveness of a short-term prevention program to increase drug refusal behavior in a school-age population was assessed. Forty-two third-grade children were randomly assigned to one of three groups: rehearsal-plus, traditional, or attention control. Children in the rehearsal-plus group were taught specific drug refusal techniques and appropriate social skills, and were provided a rationale for each response. This procedure included behavioral training and elaborative rehearsal. Training occurred in four socially validated situations corresponding to settings where children were likely to be offered drugs. The traditional procedure consisted of instructions derived from a "Just Say No" drug program. Assessment focused on specific refusal behaviors, procedural knowledge, and self-efficacy. Significant gains in desired functioning and appropriate behavioral and social skills were found. The effectiveness of the rehearsal-plus procedure as a method of increasing adaptive responding in dangerous and/or anxiety-arousing situations is discussed.
Subject(s)
Behavior Therapy/methods , Health Education/methods , Interpersonal Relations , Substance-Related Disorders/prevention & control , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The study was designed to evaluate the use of an environmental control unit (ECU) by high-level spinal cord injured patients. The technology is relatively new, and to the best of the authors' knowledge, no comprehensive study has been made of the utility of the ECU. Data were obtained from 29 high-level spinal cord injured persons who had been using ECUs for at least one year. The subjects had a mean age of 24.2 years; 89.7% were men; and 51.7% of the injuries resulted from vehicular accidents. Most (93%) of the subjects perceived the ECU as increasing their independence. Operation of the telephone was indicated as the most important function (61%); control of television sets were second (21%) in rank. Of the subjects who worked or went to school, only two used their ECUs for those purposes. Subjects felt comfortable for longer periods without attendant care when the ECU was available. Some of the subjects felt that they had received inadequate training (30%) and that their attendants lacked understanding of the ECU (36%). Steps should be taken to increase the employment potential of ECU users by providing units with additional features and by increasing the training of both users and their attendants. Design of units that are more "user friendly" is also needed.
