Contact Jennifer
Bogner, Ph.D.
Ohio Regional TBI Model System, at
Citation Bogner, J. (2000). The
Agitated Behavior Scale. The Center for Outcome Measurement
in Brain Injury. http://www.tbims.org/
combi/coglog ( accessed
).
ABS
Training & Testing
Raters
The
ABS is an observational as opposed to a self-report measure. Original
validation studies showed that nursing staff, physical therapists
and occupational therapists can use the scale reliably and validly.
At Ohio State University, the ABS is completed by the primary nurse
at the end of each shift. Novak and Penrod (1993) report its use
at the end of each session by therapy staff.
Observational
Units
The
ABS has been shown to be reliable and valid when based on therapists'
30-minute observation periods, or primary nurses' perceptions based
upon an 8-hour shift (Corrigan, 1989). Ratings based on 10-minute
observation periods by psychology assistants or a rehabilitation
nurse have also been found to be reliable. However, serial monitoring
must be done with comparable observations, as it has been found
that ratings during 10-minute observation periods are not comparable
to ratings based on 8-hour shifts.
Observers
make a rating of one to four for each of the fourteen items. In
validation, nurses and therapists were trained by sharing impressions
and asking feedback during a trial-use period. Written descriptions
of ratings for each item, with examples, are available from Drs.
Corrigan and Bogner at Ohio State University.