Husodo, Cortney, McDermott, Brett, Longhitano, Calogero, and Matta, Gabrielle (2021) Functional outcomes in rural Australia of two continuing care teams: a regional town–city comparison of the 16-item Life Skills Profile. Australasian Psychiatry, 29 (2). pp. 139-144.

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Abstract

Objective: The primary aim was to examine differences in functional health outcomes in consumers entering a regional mental health service compared with a city service.

Method: A retrospective analysis of consumer outcomes and characteristics was undertaken. Consumer demographics and diagnoses were compared between the two services. Functional outcomes were measured using the 16-item Life Skills Profile (LSP-16). The data analysis plan utilised descriptive statistics. For between-clinic comparisons, relevant inferential statistics was used.

Results: Patients attending the regional health service were five times more likely to be in the high impairment category on the LSP-16, independent of demographic factors and diagnosis. Other independent contributions to high impairment were being male, Indigenous and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Of the four LSP-16 subscales, regional consumers scored relatively higher on withdrawal, compliance and anti-social but not self-care subscales.

Conclusions: There was a greater level of functional impairment in consumers attending the regional service. The independent contributions did not explain the higher impairment; therefore, other factors such as socioeconomic disadvantage may explain the difference. Regional clinicians may need to consider recovery-orientated interventions that address a greater burden of functional impairments in regional services.

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