OUTCOME MEASUREMENT IN RURAL MENTAL HEALTH CARE: A FIELD TRIAL OF ROOMING‐IN MODELS

Abstract

The main objectives of this project, in rural Western Australia, were to collect information, compare and evaluate the functioning of novel types of psychiatric services, including rooming-in facilities, using outcome measurement tools, and to assess the attitude of mental health professionals towards routine outcome measurement. For the first time in rural health services, two outcome measurement tools were used for this purpose: the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales and the World Health Organization Short Disability Assessment Schedule. While staff at 11 rural sites were trained in the use of outcome measurements, only staff from three sites were able to participate in the data collection that spanned for a year and shed information on 39 patients. Two of these sites were rooming-in facilities with different models of care and patient characteristics. Shortage of staff, lack of adequate local information technology support on sites and technical difficulties limited participation. The assessment of staff attitudes towards routine outcome measurement revealed a need to provide staff with reasons and incentives for incorporating outcome measurement into routine practice, in addition to provision of a thorough and on-going training and support in time and resources from management.