BACKGROUND: The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) were developed to assess the outcome of severe mental disorders in relation to the Health of the Nation Strategy for England. AIMS: To validate the HoNOS. METHOD: One hundred and fifteen patients were assessed by keyworkers using HoNOS, and by research workers using SCAN, SBS, and SRPS, and completing HoNOS in the light of this additional material. These assessments were repeated after 6 weeks. RESULTS: The performance of HoNOS in the hands of keyworkers was generally poor, in relation both to the research workers' rating of HoNOS and to the criterion instruments. Performance was particularly poor when the change in scores was used as a measure of outcome. CONCLUSIONS: There are serious problems in using HoNOS as a routine measure of clinical status in busy psychiatric services. Its performance is probably related to the training and experience of keyworkers. Sequential ratings are not a good method for assessing outcome. Managers and planners should be cautious in adopting HoNOS, but it is worthy consideration in developing a suite of locally agreed outcome measures.
BACKGROUND: The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) were developed to assess the outcome of severe mental disorders in relation to the Health of the Nation Strategy for England. AIMS: To validate the HoNOS. METHOD: One hundred and fifteen patients were assessed by keyworkers using HoNOS, and by research workers using SCAN, SBS, and SRPS, and completing HoNOS in the light of this additional material. These assessments were repeated after 6 weeks. RESULTS: The performance of HoNOS in the hands of keyworkers was generally poor, in relation both to the research workers' rating of HoNOS and to the criterion instruments. Performance was particularly poor when the change in scores was used as a measure of outcome. CONCLUSIONS: There are serious problems in using HoNOS as a routine measure of clinical status in busy psychiatric services. Its performance is probably related to the training and experience of keyworkers. Sequential ratings are not a good method for assessing outcome. Managers and planners should be cautious in adopting HoNOS, but it is worthy consideration in developing a suite of locally agreed outcome measures.
Authors: Dan Siskind; Meredith Harris; Steve Kisely; Victor Siskind; James Brogan; Jane Pirkis; David Crompton; Harvey Whiteford Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2013-10-23
Authors: R Ecob; T J Croudace; I R White; J E Evans; G L Harrison; D Sharp; P B Jones Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2004 Impact factor: 4.035
Authors: Jane E Pirkis; Philip M Burgess; Pia K Kirk; Sarity Dodson; Tim J Coombs; Michelle K Williamson Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2005-11-28 Impact factor: 3.186