SEQUenCE: A service user-centred quality of care instrument for mental health services

TY - JOUR

T1 - SEQUenCE

T2 - A service user-centred quality of care instrument for mental health services

AU - Hester, Lorraine

AU - O'Doherty, Lorna Jane

AU - Schnittger, Rebecca

AU - Skelly, Niamh

AU - O'Donnell, Muireann

AU - Butterly, Lisa

AU - Browne, Robert

AU - Frorath, Charlotte

AU - Morgan, Craig

AU - Mcloughlin, Declan M.

AU - Fearon, Paul

PY - 2015/8/1

Y1 - 2015/8/1

N2 - Objective: To develop a quality of care instrument that is grounded in the service user perspective and validate it in a mental health service. Design: The instrument (SEQUenCE (SErvice user QUality of CarE))was developed through analysis of focus group data and clinical practice guidelines, and refined through field-testing and psychometric analyses. Setting: All participants were attending an independent mental health service in Ireland. Participants: Participants had a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) or a psychotic disorder. Intervention(s): Twenty-nine service users participated in six focus group interviews. Seventy-one service users participated in field-testing: 10 judged the face validity of an initial 61-item instrument; 28 completed a revised 52-item instrument from which 12 items were removed following test-retest and convergent validity analyses; 33 completed the resulting 40-item instrument. Main outcome measures: Test-retest reliability, internal consistency and convergent validity of the instrument. Results: The final instrument showed acceptable test-retest reliability at 5-7 days (r = 0.65; P < 0.001), good convergent validity with the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale (r = 0.84, P < 0.001) and good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87). Conclusions: SEQUenCE is a valid, reliable scale that is grounded in the service user perspective and suitable for routine use. It may serve as a useful tool in individual care planning, service evaluation and research. The instrument was developed and validated with service users with a diagnosis of either BPAD or a psychotic disorder; it does not yet have established external validity for other diagnostic groups.

AB - Objective: To develop a quality of care instrument that is grounded in the service user perspective and validate it in a mental health service. Design: The instrument (SEQUenCE (SErvice user QUality of CarE))was developed through analysis of focus group data and clinical practice guidelines, and refined through field-testing and psychometric analyses. Setting: All participants were attending an independent mental health service in Ireland. Participants: Participants had a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) or a psychotic disorder. Intervention(s): Twenty-nine service users participated in six focus group interviews. Seventy-one service users participated in field-testing: 10 judged the face validity of an initial 61-item instrument; 28 completed a revised 52-item instrument from which 12 items were removed following test-retest and convergent validity analyses; 33 completed the resulting 40-item instrument. Main outcome measures: Test-retest reliability, internal consistency and convergent validity of the instrument. Results: The final instrument showed acceptable test-retest reliability at 5-7 days (r = 0.65; P < 0.001), good convergent validity with the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale (r = 0.84, P < 0.001) and good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87). Conclusions: SEQUenCE is a valid, reliable scale that is grounded in the service user perspective and suitable for routine use. It may serve as a useful tool in individual care planning, service evaluation and research. The instrument was developed and validated with service users with a diagnosis of either BPAD or a psychotic disorder; it does not yet have established external validity for other diagnostic groups.

KW - Health services research

KW - Healthcare quality improvement

KW - Mental health

KW - Patient satisfaction

KW - Patient-centred care

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84939620600&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/intqhc/mzv043

DO - 10.1093/intqhc/mzv043

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84939620600

SN - 1353-4505

VL - 27

SP - 284

EP - 290

JO - International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care / ISQua

JF - International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care / ISQua

IS - 4

ER -