Practical Experiences in Treatment Evaluation Through Follow‐Up Studies

Levinson, Toby

doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.1977.tb05788.x

Alcoholism Clin & Exp Res

1977

DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1977.tb05788.x

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Practical Experiences in Treatment Evaluation Through Follow‐Up Studies

Toby Levinson¹

Abstract: The difficulties confronting the investigator evaluating alcoholism treatment programs are outlined, and two studies designed to take these problems into account are described. In one study, after 5 yr posttreatment, 115 of the original 154 subjects were successfully contacted and reassessed once again.

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1981

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The Use Made of Treatment: an Alternative Approach to the Evaluation of Alcoholism Services

Yates

Norris

1981

Behav. Cogn. Psychother.

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Despite much evaluative research on alcoholism services, the effectiveness of treatment is still an unsettled matter. The inconclusive results of empirical studies comparing different methods and extensive statistical analysis of their findings do not point a clear way forward for future evaluative efforts. Using a sample of follow-up data from an evaluation study of three residential units (not considered here) this report sets out to demonstrate that dynamics in individual drinking patterns make surveys of studies which have applied different outcome criteria very unreliable. The feasibility of the single controlled study in evaluation is also questioned and attributed to the inappropriate use of a “quality control” model. An alternative approach which avoids the methodological and practical difficulties of the conventional design examines the use made of treatment by clients. A more realistic account based on individual cases is urged which recognizes that seeking help for a drink problem is only one of a number of ways in which the treatment episode fits into the lives of problem drinkers. Some observational evidence is presented and a reinterpretation of Costello' successful and unsuccessful treatment groupings is made in support of a treatment-use approach to evaluation.

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The Use Made of Treatment: an Alternative Approach to the Evaluation of Alcoholism Services

Yates

Norris

1981

Behav. Cogn. Psychother.

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The characteristics of alcoholics frequently lost to follow-up.

Mackenzie¹,

Funderburk²,

Allen³

et al. 1987

J. Stud. Alcohol

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Evaluating Alcoholism Treatment Programs: Considerations and Caveats

Singer

1983

International Journal of the Addictions

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There are many pitfalls in the design and implementation of treatment evaluations which can be avoided by careful scrutiny of previous efforts. To this end, the author reviews several key methodological and conceptual issues which affect evaluations of treatment outcome. The issue of sampling is discussed with primary attention given to biases resulting from common sampling errors. The measurement of treatment outcome is explored, underscoring the limitations and benefits of employing drinking behavior indices. Suggestions are made to improve follow-up response rates, and a strategy for analyzing follow-up losses is outlined. Finally, a number of frequently overlooked variables which may relate to treatment outcome are reviewed.

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Practical Experiences in Treatment Evaluation Through Follow‐Up Studies

Cited by 4 publications

References 4 publications

The Use Made of Treatment: an Alternative Approach to the Evaluation of Alcoholism Services

The Use Made of Treatment: an Alternative Approach to the Evaluation of Alcoholism Services

The characteristics of alcoholics frequently lost to follow-up.

Evaluating Alcoholism Treatment Programs: Considerations and Caveats

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