Reliability of the Manitoba Mental Health Management Information System for Research

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the accuracy of data contained in Manitoba's Mental Health Management Information System (MHMIS) as compared with client charts and to determine which factors influence completeness and accuracy. Method: Data on diagnosis, open date and close date, demographic information, and contact information were obtained from client charts and compared with data extracted from the MHMIS. Semistructured interviews were conducted with individuals who contribute data to the MHMIS. Results: Data on required demographic variables, primary diagnosis, and open and close dates are highly similar in the 2 sources. The correlation between data sources on the number of client contacts is also good. Conclusion: This study establishes the reliability of MHMIS data. MHMIS data, in combination with hospital abstracts and physician claims data, provide the information needed to serve as a psychiatric case register (PCR) and can be used for psychiatric epidemiology as well as for planning, monitoring, and evaluating mental health services.