Implementing measurement based care in community mental health: a description of tailored and standardized methods

• Published in: BMC research notes Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 76
• Main Authors: Lewis, Cara C, Puspitasari, Ajeng, Boyd, Meredith R, Scott, Kelli, Marriott, Brigid R, Hoffman, Mira, Navarro, Elena, Kassab, Hannah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 27-01-2018; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Active learning; Adult learning; Analysis; Community mental health; Depression; Depression (Mood disorder); Didacticism; Electronic health records; Electronic medical records; Evidence-based medicine; Focus groups; Implementation; Leadership; Measurement based care; Meetings; Mental depression; Mental health; Methods; Psychotherapy; Research Note; Social networks; Standardized; Tailored; Teams; Training; Tailored; Depression; Community mental health; Measurement based care; Implementation; Standardized
• ISSN: 1756-0500; 1756-0500
• DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-3193-0

Although tailored implementation methods are touted as superior to standardized, few researchers have directly compared the two and little guidance regarding the specific details of each method exist. Our study compares these methods in a dynamic cluster randomized trial seeking to optimize implementation of measurement based care (MBC) for depression in community behavioral health. This specific manuscript provides a detailed, replicable account of the components of each multi-faceted implementation method.
The standardized best practice method includes training, consultation, a clinical guideline, and electronic health record enhancements with the goal to optimize the delivery of MBC with fidelity. Conversely, the tailored, customized and collaborative method is informed by recent implementation science advancements and begins with a needs assessment, followed by tailored training that feeds back barriers data to clinicians, the formation of an implementation team, a clinician-driven clinic-specific guideline, and the use of fidelity data to inform implementation team activities; the goal of the tailored condition is to ensure the intervention and implementation strategies address unique factors of the context. The description of these methods will inform others seeking to implement MBC, as well as those planning to use standardized or tailored implementation methods for interventions beyond behavioral health.