DIALOG + Evaluation in Mental Health Services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improvement and innovation in public mental health services care delivery and outcome using a new digital platform (DIALOG+): A feasibility study
IRAS ID
317940
Contact name
John Carden
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Besti Cadwaladr University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
A recent study within the Local Health Board (BCUHB) highlighted significant and pervasive flaws in the local digital infrastructure. These flaws affect all clinical surveillance, with serious consequences for information-sharing amongst clinicians and agencies. In order to begin to remedy this situation, we are undertaking this study into the development of practical assessment and outcome recording systems that would facilitate both clinical surveillance and research.
Patient-reported outcome and experience measures (PROM/PREM) have been developed to include the patient perspective in healthcare delivery and quality improvement. Processes need to be in place at a local level which enable the health and social care organisations to create and make use of results from PROMS and PREMS in practice, management and research.
DIALOG+ is a PROM/PREM intervention, derived from extensive research on patient reported quality of life outcomes in the mental health context. DIALOG+ has been shown to be clinically effective in two randomised controlled trials in community mental health teams in East London and medium-secure services in South England. Since 2017, DIALOG+ has been implemented within East London NHS Foundation Trust as part of a new care plan approach and to collect patient outcome and treatment experience data.
The aims of this study are to: support the mental health division of BCUHB to design and improve assessment and outcomes for people with mental health problems; improve patient safety through improved digital records; and to foster improved capacity within BCUHB to employ PROMS and PREMS through a digital platform.
We will train 10 care coordinators (CC) across the two CMHT’s in the use of Dialog + intervention. Each CC will be asked to use the intervention with a minimum of two, and a maximum of four patients on their caseload, spanning a 3-6 month timescale. Following the use of the intervention period, we will invite CC’s to gather feedback on their experiences of using DIALOG+, using a semi-structured interview proforma about the positive and negative aspects of the process with particular reference to feasibility.REC name
Wales REC 1
REC reference
22/WA/0338
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jan 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion