Clifford, Paul;
(2003)
An infometric approach to mental health outcome measurement.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
The thesis describes the development and testing of a new approach to outcome measurement referred to as the 'infometric approach'. The key principles behind this approach are that it follows the naturally-occurring clinical process, integrates recording and measurement functions and is based on a multi-axial representation of a person. The thesis describes the development of measurement tools examining health and social functioning and risk based upon these principles and evaluates their use in relation to outcomes data collected on over 1000 patients. The analysis is used to explore the psychometric properties of the tools and to examine broader issues including: the relationship between global clinical judgments of impact upon quality of life and clinical assessment at the item and axial level; the relationship between judgments of risk and the occurrence of risk behaviour; the relationship between practitioner perception of severity of problems and patient perceptions of quality of life; and the relationship between practitioner and patient perceptions of risk. The results include demonstration that the tools can be used to represent accurately patient characteristics and to measure change. Key methodological developments arising out of the analysis include the establishment of two 'reference groups' to support outcomes analysis and benchmarking, a global index of impact upon quality of life and a streamlined outcomes measurement methodology that is both more economical and more sensitive to change than established outcomes methodologies. The practical benefits and costs associated with possible implementation of this approach are reviewed. In conclusion it is argued that the findings support the infometric principles underlying the methodology and have the potential to contribute to a new era of outcomes research based upon the use of data collected in routine clinical practice.
Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
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Qualification: | Ph.D |
Title: | An infometric approach to mental health outcome measurement |
Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
Language: | English |
Additional information: | Thesis digitised by ProQuest. |
Keywords: | Psychology; Health and environmental sciences; Mental health outcomes |
URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10099342 |
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