Citation

Tyler N, Wright N, Grundy A, Waring J. BMJ Open 2020; 10(5): e034215.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034215

PMID

32404388

PMCID

PMC7228512

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To develop a core set of outcomes to be used in all future studies into discharge from acute mental health services to increase homogeneity of outcome reporting.
DESIGN: We used a cross-sectional online survey with qualitative responses to derive a comprehensive list of outcomes, followed by two online Delphi rounds and a face-to-face consensus meeting.
SETTING: The setting the core outcome set applies to is acute adult mental health.
PARTICIPANTS: Participants were recruited from five stakeholder groups: service users, families and carers, researchers, healthcare professionals and policymakers.
INTERVENTIONS: The core outcome set is intended for all interventions that aim to improve discharge from acute mental health services to the community.
RESULTS: Ninety-three participants in total completed the questionnaire, 69 in Delphi round 1 and 68 in round 2, with relatively even representation of groups. Eleven participants attended the consensus meeting. Service users, healthcare professionals, researchers, carers/families and end-users of research agreed on a four-item core outcome set: readmission, suicide completed, service user-reported psychological distress and quality of life.
CONCLUSION: Implementation of the core outcome set in future trials research will provide a framework to achieve standardisation, facilitate selection of outcome measures, allow between-study comparisons and ultimately enhance the relevance of trial or research findings to healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers and service users.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adult; Aged; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Delphi Technique; mental health; Health Personnel; Prospective Studies; Mental Health; Surveys and Questionnaires; Quality of Life; United Kingdom; Patient Discharge; Inpatients; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Mental Health Services; Consensus; Research Personnel; Suicide, Completed; discharge; Psychological Distress; Patient Readmission; Stakeholder Participation; care transitions; Administrative Personnel; acute adult mental health services; core outcome set