Quality indicators for primary care mental health services.
OBJECTIVE
To identify a generic set of face valid quality indicators for primary care mental health services which reflect a multi-stakeholder perspective and can be used for facilitating quality improvement.


METHODS
Modified two-round postal Delphi questionnaire.


METHODS
Geographical spread across Great Britain.


METHODS
One hundred and fifteen panellists representing 11 different stakeholder groups within primary care mental health services (clinical psychologist, health and social care commissioner, community psychiatric nurse, counsellor, general practitioner, practice nurse/district nurse/health visitor, psychiatrist, social worker, carer, patient and voluntary organisations).


METHODS
Face validity (median rating of 8 or 9 on a nine point scale with agreement by all panels) for assessing quality of care.


RESULTS
A maximum of 334 indicators were rated by panels in the second round; 26% were rated valid by all panels. These indicators were categorised into 21 aspects of care, 11 relating to general practices and 10 relating to health authorities or primary care groups/trusts. There was variation in the total number of indicators rated valid across the different panels. Overall, GPs rated the lowest number of indicators as valid (41%, n=138) and carers rated the highest number valid (91%, n=304).


CONCLUSIONS
The quality indicators represent consensus among key stakeholder groups in defining quality of care within primary care mental health services. These indicators could provide a guide for primary care organisations embarking on quality improvement initiatives in mental health care when addressing national targets and standards relating to primary care set out in the National Service Framework for Mental Health for England. Although many of the indicators relate to parochial issues in UK service delivery, the methodology used in the development of the indicators could be applied in other settings to produce locally relevant indicators.
Shield
T
T
National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Manchester, UK.
Campbell
S
S
Rogers
A
A
Worrall
A
A
Chew-Graham
C
C
Gask
L
L
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011570:Psychiatry; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom