Outcome measures

What is an outcome?

When a measure is used more than once over a period of time, and the collected data sets are compared, the difference is the 'outcome'.

What are outcome measures?

Standard measures of assessment are used to identify outcomes and changes in health, wellbeing and circumstances over time. This process involves capturing information from a range of perspectives at nominated time intervals. One family of measures, the Health of the Nation Outcomes Scale (HoNOS), is currently in use in New Zealand and several other measures are being developed.

Te Pou keeps abreasts of clinical developments and, under the terms of its contract with the Ministry of Health, takes an active part in initiatives and clinical developments involving outcome measures, both in New Zealand and internationally. Te Pou is currently involved in the following work to do with outcome measures:

HoNOS revision - New Zealand is participating with delegates from the UK and Australia to review and address issues that have arisen to date around collecting data from, and training in the use of, HoNOS.
Focus of Care tool - Te Pou is leading the revision of the Focus of Care tool, with input from Australia. Focus of Care currently includes categories that require review and modification against current clinical processes.
HoNOS Secure and HoNOS LD - At present there is no national requirement for the collection of these measures. Te Pou has been working with clinical leaders in both areas to determine whether the Ministry of Health should make HoNOS Secure and HoNOS LD mandatory.
Te Pou is also involved in an international working group to develop new HoNOS training resources and international consensus ratings for HoNOS vignettes.

Why is measuring outcomes important?

The collection, analysis and interpretation of outcomes information offers the potential to assist clinicians, services and national policy to be outcomes and recovery focused.

Outcomes information can assist:

service users to use their own outcomes data to reflect on their wellbeing and circumstances, talk to clinicians about their support needs and inform their recovery plans
clinicians to use outcomes information to support their decision-making in day-to-day practice, monitoring change, better understanding the needs of the service user, and also to begin evaluating the effectiveness of different interventions
planners and funders to assess population needs for mental health services and assist with allocation of resources
policy and mental health strategy developments through nationally aggregated data.

Te Pou remains at the leading edge with respect to work on outcome measures. This is important to the entire work of the Te Pou Information programme to ensure it is consistently developed, including reviewing its approach in line with international developments, trends, patterns and evidenced-based best-practice guidelines.