title: Linking data to decision-making: applying qualitative data analysis methods and software to identify mechanisms for using outcomes data.
abstract: A multiple case study was conducted to examine how staff in child out-of-home care programs used data from an Outcomes Management System (OMS) and other sources to inform decision-making. Data collection consisted of thirty-seven semi-structured interviews with clinicians, managers, and directors from two treatment foster care programs and two residential treatment centers, and individuals involved with developing the OMS; and observations of clinical and quality management meetings. Case study and grounded theory methodology guided analyses. The application of qualitative data analysis software is described. Results show that although staff rarely used data from the OMS, they did rely on other sources of systematically collected information to inform clinical, quality management, and program decisions. Analyses of how staff used these data suggest that improving the utility of OMS will involve encouraging staff to participate in data-based decision-making, and designing and implementing OMS in a manner that reflects how decision-making processes operate.
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Health Informatics Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. vpatel@aya.yale.edu
authors.forename: Vaishali N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Anne W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Riley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006270:Health Facility Administrators; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D019370:Observation; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012114:Residential Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*