A. Gerdner et B. Soderfeldt, EXPLAINING INCONSISTENCIES BETWEEN PATIENTS AND COLLATERALS - VALIDITY IN OUTCOME STUDIES OF COERCIVE ALCOHOLISM-TREATMENT, Scandinavian journal of social welfare, 5(1), 1996, pp. 12-18
This study aims to assess the consistency of replies to questionnaires
mailed to patients and two kinds of collaterals, i.e., social workers
and significant others, at a public treatment center with socially un
stable and compulsory committed patients. It compares the quantity and
kind of discrepancies between replies by patients and collaterals on
outcome data concerning social situation and drinking habits. It aims
to measure the amount of systematic bias among factors that may explai
n inconsistencies between reports, especially the factors compulsory c
ommitment, worse outcome, frequency of contact and type of collateral.
The responders generally agreed. Variables in which there was less ag
reement were explored in logistic regressions using ten explanatory va
riables. Significant relations did not exceed those expected by chance
. Discrepancies were not systematic in size and kind. On a six-rank or
dinal scale of alcohol use or abuse, however, patients tended to under
estimate the extent of their abuse. Inconsistencies here concerned the
degree but not the presence of abuse. No difference in consistency du
e to type of collateral was found. In conclusion, the consistency of t
he questionnaires was high and independent of the social situation of
the patient, of compulsory commitment and of other background or treat
ment factors, as well as of treatment outcome and type of collateral.