| Outcome measurement
is the practice of measuring health outcomes of consumers of mental
health services. This is carried out by undertaking a succession
of ratings over time and comparing the results. The collection of
outcome measures is important so that clinicians can utilise the
data in day-to-day care planning. For consumers there is an opportunity
to contribute to their care by completing the consumer rated measures.
Find out how we are able to measure outcomes
and who uses them?
How Can We Measure Outcomes?
Outcome measures are completed either by the clinician or the consumer.
The ratings obtained are compared at point of admission to the mental
health service, on review and at discharge.
Following a lengthy period of researching the literature, field
trials, and consultation with stakeholders (mainly clinicians, consumers
and carers) the criteria for selection of outcome measures was that
they should be:
Applicable:
The measure should address dimensions that are important to the
consumer (symptoms, disability and the consumer perspective) and
useful to clinicians in their clinical work.
Acceptable:
Measures should be brief and user friendly, the language easily
understood and the format of the measure clear.
Practical
Outcome measures need to be practical for routine use in clinical
practice with minimal cost, simple scoring and interpretation and
require minimal training.
Reliable:
The measure should provide the same results when completed by two
different people.
Valid:
The measure should quantify and measure what it is designed to measure.
Sensitive to change:
If the measure is to reflect outcome of treatment or intervention
then it should be sensitive to meaningful changes in the consumer’s
mental health status.
Who Uses Outcome Measures?
There are several different groups who can use the information
from outcome measurement, they include: consumers, carers, clinicians,
team leaders, local managers, local administrators and regional,
state and federal service planners/funders.
Each of these groups will have different uses for the outcome measurement
information as shown in the table below.
| Group |
Uses |
| Consumers |
- Monitor own personal progress.
- Engage consumer and clinician in dialogue about treatment/care.
- An opportunity to develop care/management plans with the
clinician.
- To evaluate the value of the treatment/care received.
|
| Carers |
- Assist in monitoring the consumer’s progress (with
the permission of the consumer).
- An opportunity to develop care/management plans with the
consumer and clinician (with the permission of the consumer).
|
| Clinicians |
- Individual clinical reflection.
- Aids decision making at admission, clinical review and
discharge.
- Monitor the progress of the consumer.
- Monitor own performance as a clinician.
- To help to better understand the needs of the consumer.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of interventions.
- Assist in maintaining continuity of care (transfer of
clients).
|
| Local Managers/Administrators |
- To manage resources.
- Monitor work flows.
- Conduct clinical audits.
- Monitor the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the
service.
- To provide a guide for clinical supervision.
- To assist in planning for staff development.
- Provide data for local practice-based research and general
planning.
|
| Regional/State/Federal
Planners |
- Assess the population needs for mental health services.
- Plan and pay for services.
- Determine priorities for the allocation of resources.
- Inform value for money decisions in the allocation of
funds.
- Assist in the further development of a casemix classification
for mental health services.
|
|
