A feasibility study of a web-based performance improvement system for substance abuse treatment providers

Robert Forman, Paul Crits-Christoph, Övgü Kaynak, Matt Worley, Donald A. Hantula, Agatha Kulaga, John Rotrosen, Melissa Chu, Robert Gallop, Jennifer Potter, Patrice Muchowski, Kirk Brower, Stephen Strobbe, Kathy Magruder, A'Delle H. Chellis, Tad Clodfelter, Margaret Cawley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report here on the feasibility of implementing a semiautomated performance improvement system-Patient Feedback (PF)-that enables real-time monitoring of patient ratings of therapeutic alliance, treatment satisfaction, and drug/alcohol use in outpatient substance abuse treatment clinics. The study was conducted in six clinics within the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network. It involved a total of 39 clinicians and 6 clinic supervisors. Throughout the course of the study (consisting of five phases: training period [4 weeks], baseline [4 weeks], intervention [12 weeks], postintervention assessment [4 weeks], sustainability [1 year]), there was an overall collection rate of 75.5% of the clinic patient census. In general, the clinicians in these clinics had very positive treatment satisfaction and alliance ratings throughout the study. However, one clinic had worse drug use scores at baseline than other participating clinics and showed a decrease in self-reported drug use at postintervention. Although the implementation of the PF system proved to be feasible in actual clinical settings, further modifications of the PF system are needed to enhance any potential clinical usefulness.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)363-371
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Volume33
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alliance
  • Feedback
  • Performance improvement
  • Substance abuse
  • Treatment satisfaction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Phychiatric Mental Health
  • Medicine (miscellaneous)

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