Andrew J B Fugard1, Emily Stapley2, Tamsin Ford3, Duncan Law4, Miranda Wolpert2, Ann York5. 1. Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, WC1H 0AP, UK. 2. University College London, Anna Freud Centre, UK. 3. University of Exeter Medical School, UK. 4. Specialist CAMHS, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, UK. 5. South West London & St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, Child and Family Consultation Centre, Richmond, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes measures are increasingly being used in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). League tables are a common way of comparing organizations across health and education but have limitations that are not well known in CAMHS. METHOD: Parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) outcomes data from 15,771 episodes of care across 51 UK CAMHS were analysed using funnel plots, an alternative to league tables. RESULTS: While most services were indistinguishable from the national average there was evidence of heterogeneous outcomes and seven services had outcomes below 99.9% limits for SDQ added-value scores. CONCLUSIONS: Funnel plots are powerful tools for navigating national data and can help prompt investigations using clinical theory and local service context. Examples are provided of factors to consider in these investigations. We argue that analyses of the local context are central to the valid application of funnel plots.
BACKGROUND:Patient-reported outcomes measures are increasingly being used in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). League tables are a common way of comparing organizations across health and education but have limitations that are not well known in CAMHS. METHOD: Parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) outcomes data from 15,771 episodes of care across 51 UK CAMHS were analysed using funnel plots, an alternative to league tables. RESULTS: While most services were indistinguishable from the national average there was evidence of heterogeneous outcomes and seven services had outcomes below 99.9% limits for SDQ added-value scores. CONCLUSIONS: Funnel plots are powerful tools for navigating national data and can help prompt investigations using clinical theory and local service context. Examples are provided of factors to consider in these investigations. We argue that analyses of the local context are central to the valid application of funnel plots.