title: Statistical and consensus-based strategies for grouping consumers in mental health level-of-care schemes.
abstract: Mental health Level-of-Care schemes differ in the emphasis placed on statistically based versus consensus-based strategies for delineating consumer groups. Statistical strategies define groups on the basis of empirical distinctions within the caseload. Consensus strategies group consumers according to an a priori framework of consumer characteristics determined by experts to differentiate the appropriate types and intensities of service. This article compares the performance of two grouping strategies-one statistical and one consensus-on three criteria: programmatic relevance, measurement adequacy, and homogeneity of consumer groups. It explores the advantages of integrating elements of each strategy.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Washington, 4101-15th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105-6299, USA. eddi@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Edwina S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Srebnik
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smukler
mesh_terms: D032921:Consensus; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D018579:Patient Selection; D014861:Washington; D016526:Workload