A comparison of client and mental health worker assessment of needs and unmet needs

Abstract

This study was set up to examine agreement on needs identified by mental health clients and their primary mental health workers. Mental health workers assessed a convenience sample of clients who completed an interview about the services they receive. Data were collected from 78 client and staff dyads regarding 11 need domains. Mental health workers and clients did not agree on the number of needs (ICC = 0.42). Kappa coefficients indicated significant agreement between staff and clients for only 1 of the 11 need domains (vocational need kappa = 0.67; others ranged from 0 to 0.58). The data further revealed that mental health workers and clients disagreed about unmet needs (kappa ranged from -0.07 to 0.46). These findings show that clients and staff have divergent opinions regarding needs. Integrating clients' perspectives into treatment plans may help address this issue.