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Leading Horses to Water: Lessons from a Decade of Helping Psychological Therapy Services Use Routine Outcome Measurement to Improve Practice

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Abstract

We summarise the recent reflections of five thought leaders in the field of routine outcome measurement (ROM) for psychological therapy, and then add our own experience of introducing a national ROM system in the UK. We highlight, in particular, the post-implementation challenge of securing data of sufficient reliability to help inform service quality improvements. We ground our conclusions and recommendations in the rapidly evolving discipline of implementation science, and offer a best practice model for applying research recommendations in practice settings. In this context we portray ROM implementation as significant organizational change that benefits from rigorous process and clearly defined, well-communicated targets.

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Mellor-Clark, J., Cross, S., Macdonald, J. et al. Leading Horses to Water: Lessons from a Decade of Helping Psychological Therapy Services Use Routine Outcome Measurement to Improve Practice. Adm Policy Ment Health 43, 279–285 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-014-0587-8

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