title: Factors influencing triage decisions in mental health services.
abstract: The aim of the study was to identify the factors influencing the timing of an assessment after contact with a triage program in a community-based area mental health service in Australia. Triage decisions apparently were influenced by several groups of factors: patient characteristics; the source and mode of the contact with triage; and to a large extent by mental health service factors including the training, supervision and support of triage workers and the perceived availability of an assessment. While demand factors such as patient characteristics influenced the triage decision, supply factors also played an important role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Services, 50 Lonsdale St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia. margaret.grigg@dhs.vic.gov.au
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grigg
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herrman
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Endacott
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008605:Mental Health Services; D009313:National Health Programs; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014739:Victoria