The quota system in burn rehabilitation

J Burn Care Rehabil. 1998 Sep-Oct;19(5):436-40. doi: 10.1097/00004630-199809000-00014.

Abstract

This article describes the quota system as a treatment for the helplessness behaviors and depressive symptoms that develop in some patients with burn injuries. With an A-B single-case design, the quota system was implemented for a patient who had sustained a particularly severe burn injury. A series of baseline behaviors were measured for 3 days, and then 80% of the patient's average performance on each of the targeted behaviors was computed and used as the initial quota value. The behavioral quotas were increased systematically and gradually by approximately 5% to 10% every day. The results suggest that the quota system may have been effective in decreasing an overall trend toward passivity, in increasing 3 of 4 targeted rehabilitation behaviors, and in reducing depressive symptoms in a patient with a particularly devastating injury.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Burns, Electric / psychology*
  • Burns, Electric / rehabilitation*
  • Depression / prevention & control*
  • Helplessness, Learned*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Patient Participation
  • Stress, Psychological