Patient reported outcome measures in child and adolescent mental health services: Associations between clinician demographic characteristics, attitudes, and efficacy

Abstract

Background Policy recommends using patient reported outcome measures (PROMs), yet their use is persistently low. Our aim was to examine the association between PROM use and clinician demographic characteristics, attitudes and efficacy. Method A sample of N = 109 clinicians completed an online survey. Results Clinicians who reported higher levels of use of cognitive behaviour or humanistic approaches had higher levels of PROM use than clinicians who reported lower levels of use of these approaches. Clinicians who reported having received training had higher levels of self-efficacy regarding PROMs than clinicians who reported not having received training, but the effects of training on PROM attitudes and use were not significant. Still, clinicians with more positive attitudes or self-efficacy regarding PROMs had higher levels of PROM use than clinicians with less positive attitudes or self-efficacy regarding PROMs. Conclusion Clinicians should be supported to have the knowledge, skills and confidence to effectively use PROMs in their clinical practice.