Technology transfer through performance management: the effects of graphical feedback and positive reinforcement on drug treatment counselors' behavior

After drug treatment counselors at a community-based methadone treatment cl inic were trained in implementing a contingency management (CM) interventio n, baseline measures of performance revealed that, on average, counselors w ere meeting the performance criteria specified by the treatment protocol ab out 42% of the time. Counselors were exposed to graphical feedback and a dr awing for cash prizes in an additive within-subjects design to assess the e ffectiveness of these interventions in improving protocol adherence. Counse lor performance measures increased to 71% during the graphical feedback con dition, and to 81% during the drawing. Each counselor's performance improve d during the intervention conditions. Additional analyses suggested that co unselors did not have skill deficits that hindered implementation. Rather, protocol implementation occurred more frequently when consequences were add ed, thereby increasing the overall proportion of criteria mel. Generalizati ons, however, may be limited due to a small sample size and possible confou nding of time and intervention effects. Nonetheless, present results show p romise that feedback and positive reinforcement could be used to improve te chnology transfer of behavioral interventions into community clinic setting s. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.