Evaluating the implementation of a mental health referral service "Connect to Wellbeing": a quality improvement approach

Onnis, Leigh-ann, Kinchin, Irina, Pryce, Josephine, Ennals, Priscilla, Petrucci, Joe, and Tsey, Komla (2020) Evaluating the implementation of a mental health referral service "Connect to Wellbeing": a quality improvement approach. Frontiers in Public Health, 8. 585933.

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Abstract

There is increasing demand for mental health services to be accessible to diverse populations in flexible, yet, cost-effective ways. This article presents the findings from a study that evaluated the process of implementing Connect to Wellbeing (CTW), a new mental health intake, assessment and referral service in regional Australia, to determine how well it improved access to services, and to identify potential measures that could be used to evaluate value for money. The study used a hybrid study design to conduct a process evaluation to better understand: the process of implementing CTW; and the barriers and factors enabling implementation of CTW. In addition, to better understand how to measure the cost-effectiveness of such services, the hybrid study design included an assessment of potential outcome measures suitable for ascertaining both the effectiveness of CTW in client health outcomes, and conducting a value for money analysis. The process evaluation found evidence that by improving processes, and removing waitlists CTW had created an opportunity to broadened the scope and type of psychological services offered which improved accessibility. The assessment of potential outcome measures provided insight into suitable measures for future evaluation into service effectiveness, client health outcomes and value for money.

Item ID: 66586
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 2296-2565
Keywords: mental health service, outcomes evaluation, participatory action research (PAR), process evaluation, quality improvement, referral service
Copyright Information: © 2020 Onnis, Kinchin, Pryce, Ennals, Petrucci and Tsey. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that theoriginal publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not complywith these terms.
Funders: North Queensland Primary Health Network, Neami National, Centre for Research Excellence in Integrated Quality Improvement (CRE-IQI), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Projects and Grants: NHMRC ID 1078927
Date Deposited: 10 Mar 2021 03:12
FoR Codes: 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4203 Health services and systems > 420313 Mental health services @ 100%
SEO Codes: 20 HEALTH > 2002 Evaluation of health and support services > 200206 Health system performance (incl. effectiveness of programs) @ 20%
20 HEALTH > 2003 Provision of health and support services > 200305 Mental health services @ 80%
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