Measuring outcome in child and adolescent mental health services: consumers' views of measures.
BACKGROUND
Outcome measurement in child and adolescent mental health services in New Zealand became mandatory in 2005 and little is known about how this is perceived by service users.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to ascertain what service users think about routine outcome measurement in child and adolescent mental health services.


METHODS
Nine semi-structured focus groups of child and adolescent service users (n=34) and family members (n=21) were held in different sites in New Zealand to determine their views on outcome measures.


RESULTS
Consumers supported outcome assessment with some provisos that have important implications for clinical services: the method of collecting information is critical to acceptance; assessment should be done in the context of an established relationship with the clinician; care is needed over the timing and context of assessment, access to information and feedback of results; and measures should be brief and holistic and their limitations recognised.


CONCLUSIONS
Service users support outcome measures but their implementation requires care and consultation.
1University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Karolina
K
Stasiak
Andrew
A
Parkin
Fred
F
Seymour
Ian
I
Lambie
Sue
S
Crengle
Ettie
E
Pasene-Mizziebo
Sally
S
Merry
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009520:New Zealand; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care