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A feasibility study to assess service providers' perspectives regarding the use of the child and adolescent functional assessment scale in ontario

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Abstract

This brief report describes a feasibility study conducted to assess the level of satisfaction with the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) rater reliability training, the ease of achieving interrater reliability in rating CAFAS, and the clinical utility of CAFAS as an outcome measurement tool for the province of Ontario, from the perspective of service providers. This study has been instrumental in the development of a 4-year province-wide measurement initiative. The study proved useful to government policy and decision-makers, mental health administrators, clinicians, and mental health service researchers interested in the implementation of outcome measurement tools. It highlighted the fact that at least 85% of respondents were satisfied with CAFAS training and the ease of achieving interrater reliability. The majority identified the usefulness of the tool in case formulation and the value in tracking changes over time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Community Health Systems Resource Group, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, M5G 1X8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Katherine M. Boydell PhD (sociologist and health systems research scientist), Melanie Barwick PhD, CPsych (psychologist and health Systems Research Scientist), H. Bruce Ferguson PhD, Cpsych (program head) & Rebecca Haines MA (program analyst)

Authors
  1. Katherine M. Boydell PhD
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  2. Melanie Barwick PhD, CPsych
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  3. H. Bruce Ferguson PhD, Cpsych
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  4. Rebecca Haines MA
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katherine M. Boydell PhD.

Additional information

She is also affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

He is also affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health Sciences, and the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

She is also affiliated with the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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Boydell, K.M., Barwick, M., Ferguson, H.B. et al. A feasibility study to assess service providers' perspectives regarding the use of the child and adolescent functional assessment scale in ontario. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research 32, 105–109 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02287332

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02287332

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