Routine outcome assessment and feedback for clinicians: A pilot in an early psychosis service

Abstract

Objectives: The potential benefits of routine outcome evaluation in mental health services are well documented, but there is a paucity of information regarding techniques for providing clinically relevant feedback to clinicians that can assist in client management. We piloted an outcome assessment system that provided clinically relevant, individual client information to clinicians and evaluated the extent to which the clinicians found the feedback reports useful and interpretable.

Method: Measures of clinical and functional status were administered to clients, and feedback reports summarising outcome information in tabular and graphical format were provided to clinicians. Clinicians (n = 10) were surveyed regarding the utility of the reports in enhancing the clinical management of clients.

Results: Half the clinicians believed the reports accurately reflected their clients' symptomatology, with 80% indicating the report provided relevant, interpretable information. The majority said they would use regular outcome reports for a range of purposes, including clinical reviews with peers, treatment planning and assisting client engagement.

Conclusions: Routine feedback reports of client symptom levels and functioning appear to have clinical utility in a specialised mental health setting. However, balancing the benefits of routine outcome measurement with the “real world” needs and capacity of mental health services presents numerous challenges.

Declaration of interest: None.

Keywords:

• Routine outcome assessment
• psychosis
• prolonged recovery
• feedback