Pursuing an evidence-based culture through contextualized feedback: Aligning youth outcomes and practices.

Abstract

How can contextualized feedback on therapy practices and youth outcomes promote an evidence-basedculture for adolescent mental health? Relative to other quality improvement tools, feedback and progressmonitoring systems are generally underutilized. This article describes a feedback system collaborativelydeveloped by the Hawai‘i Department of Health Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division andprivate agency staff contracted to provide mental health services to youth. Feedback reports allowproviders to monitor progress of their youth clients, compare their progress with youth receiving similarservices, examine the extent they are using practices derived from evidence-based protocols, andcompare these practice profiles to what other youth are receiving. Providers gather to discuss reports,share success stories, and offer suggestions to improve practices and outcomes based on data from thereports. The provider feedback system in Hawai‘i has emphasized youth outcomes and has promoted an“evidence-based culture.” This article encourages direct providers and supervisors to consider how sucha system might fit in their current practice and whether contextualized feedback might be one way toenhance services and outcomes for youth with mental health needs.