A comparison of HoNOS with the Social Behaviour Schedule in three settings

Abstract

The need for short methods of assessment are often in conflict with the desire for comprehensiveness. This study compared two assessment instruments, the recently developed Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS) and the Social Behaviour Schedule (SBS) to investigate their ability to discriminate levels of disability. Three long-stay patient groups in different settings were assessed. Data were compared across groups selected on the basis of likelihood for discharge. The SBS, but not HoNOS, was found to discriminate between the patient group with the least likelihood for discharge from the two patient groups with less severe difficulties. HoNOS, but not the SBS, discriminated between the two less severe groups. Although HoNOS has many advantages with regard to brevity it may lack sufficient discriminatory power for certain patient groups.