Event recording in psychiatric care: Development of an instrument and 1-year results

Methods for regular monitoring of care and services are needed for psychiat rists to act on, to refine practice. We developed a computer-based instrume nt to be used by staff working with schizophrenic patients. The instrument was tested in a group of patients randomly assigned to an integrated-care p rogram. Data on time, place, direct/indirect contacts, and the main element s of the content of care were regularly recorded on a pocket computer and l ater transferred to a desktop computer for analysis. One-year data on 24 su bjects are presented on three levels: individual, case load, and total pati ent population. Of the encounters 66% were individual patient contacts. Sta ff spent 59% of the time at patients' homes. A computer-aided system with b uilt-in information on care delivery, program fidelity, and outcome can be the basis of decision-making on different health-management levels.