More CQ3 Blimey if only I'd known all this a year or so ago........
Clinical effectiveness and evidence-based practice
Service standard 56: Clinical care standards are linked to the published research evidence base and consensus views on
best practice
9.2.3. Evidencing outcomes
- Outcome indicators
Indicators are specific items of data that are tracked to give an indication of how intervention is having an impact. An indicator, or set of indicators, represents a concept that is related to the hoped for
effects.
Goal setting principles
Goals may relate to communication behaviour, skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, emotional state and medical condition of the
referred individual.
Goals may also relate to the communication behaviour, skills and attitudes of those within the individual?s environment
Goals should be:
relevant to the client, carers and context
needs based
evidence based (where evidence is available)
focused on functional, participative aspects of life wherever possible
formulated in conjunction with client/carer
formulated in conjunction with other members of the team where
appropriate
specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timed (SMART)
defined in agreed terms, ie using shared terminology. This may involve using the client?s opinion, in words or in another form of communication
jargon-free
take into account the skills and knowledge of the agent of change
regularly reviewed
discussed, agreed and evaluated with clients and, where appropriate, with carers
There is currently no law covering joint team accountability. This means that each professional carries individual accountability for their actions carried out (or not carried out) within the team.
Where joint working is undertaken and where appropriate, any speech and language therapy-specific outcomes should link to those
of other professionals.
Where achieving such outcomes is dependent on other professionals, the respective roles and contributions of personnel should be specified.
- Measurement of outcomes
a) Qualitative measures
Wellbeing/satisfaction
Client/carer reports on changes in health and wellbeing following a period of intervention is a further way of evidencing the effectiveness of speech and language therapy.
b) Quantitative measures
Measurement involves the use of standardised, reliable and validated
tools to record baseline and end-of-episode or discharge status. Measurements are particularly important for comparing results
across services and establishing benchmarks. Thus they will support and promote service evaluation and multi-centre audit/research.
As part of individual profiling, standardised assessments or the use of
instrumental tools, (eg acoustic computerised analysis and videofluoroscopy) may be appropriate to measure baselines and change within specified aspects of functioning.
However, the results of standardised assessments do not necessarily equate to outcomes that are, in turn, associated with health, educational and psychosocial benefits.
Measures should be appropriate to the setting and to the aims and scope of the intervention. Therapists need to be clear what parameters they are measuring and that these are the relevant ones.