Are we ready for measurement-based care? Examining organizational readiness for change among Canadian Armed Forces mental health care providers

Abstract

LAY SUMMARY The Client-Reported Outcomes Monitoring Information System (CROMIS) uses regular feedback from patients to guide mental health treatment and to improve mental health outcomes. Since 2018, CROMIS has been implemented in stages across Canadian Forces (CF) Health Services Centres. In this study, an online survey was administered to examine how prepared mental health care providers feel in terms of using CROMIS in their practice. The results from 55 providers revealed generally positive attitudes towards CROMIS and its evidence. However, providers also felt that material to educate patients about this new system was limited and that the needs of patients themselves needed to be considered. Several providers reported not knowing about the roles and responsibilities of CROMIS leaders who were expected to guide others in using this new system. In addition, there was uncertainty about how CROMIS would be evaluated and improved in the future. This study helped to identify factors that could be helping or impairing CF mental health care providers in using CROMIS to improve patient care.