title: Use of outcome measurement by paediatric AHPs in Northern Ireland.
abstract: Professional standards advocate routine use of outcome measurement (OM) in the practice of allied health professionals (AHPs). Historically, OM has focused on impairment and its immediate constraints on activity, while current policy encourages the development and addition of impact-based OM. There appears to be an assumption at this stage of AHP development that the use of OM is well embedded into practice. However, there is no evidence to support this assumption, which leads to the current investigation into the overall readiness of paediatric AHPs-speech and language therapists (SLTs), occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs)-to use OM.
  
  
  
  To investigate the readiness of paediatric AHPs in the use of OM and to consider what influences this use.
  
  
  
  A total of 133 paediatric AHPs working in the National Health Service (NHS) in Northern Ireland completed the Clinician Readiness for Measuring Outcomes Scale (CReMOS). CReMOS's 26 statements are rated on a six-point Likert scale identifying readiness to use OM based on the Transtheoretical Model of Change.
  
  
  
  While about 75% of clinicians were using OM, 25% require support to roll this out in their practice. This pattern was similar across the professions, and while the majority perceived the value of OM, several factors influenced their use.
  
  
  
  Clinicians would benefit from protected time and support from experts/role models to promote and facilitate best practice in the use of OM. Furthermore, funding for AHP services based on measurable outcomes for service users would facilitate their use in practice. Further research teasing out the different types of OM and the supports and barriers to their use would be very valuable.
authors.affiliation: CIDS Team, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harron
authors.affiliation: Speech and Language Therapy Department, School of Health Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, UK.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Titterington
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007808:Language Therapy; D009660:Northern Ireland; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010465:Perception; D013070:Speech Therapy
keywords: allied health professionals; impact; impairment; outcome measurement; speech and language therapist