Clinicians and Outcome Measurement: What's the Use? Ann F. Garland, PhD Marc Kruse, BA Gregory A. Aarons, PhD Abstract The goal of this study was to learn more about clinicians' experiences with, and perceptions of the utility, validity, and feasibility of standardized outcome measures in practice. Fifty randomly selected clinicians from multiple disciplines and multiple service agencies in a large children 's public mental health service system were interviewed individually (n = 30) or in focus groups (n = 20) using semistructured interviews. There was great variability across clinicians in attitudes about empirical methods of treatment evaluation. There was consensus regarding feasibility challenges of administering standardized measures, including time burden and literacy barriers'. Although all participants' had received scored assessment profiles for their clients, the vast majority reported that they did not use the scores in treatment planning or monitoring. Their suggestions for improved clinical utility of outcome measurement are included. With increased attention and resources devoted to performance outcome assessment, it is concerning that most clinicians perceive little clinical utility of outcome measurement. Mental health practitioners are increasingly being encouraged to adopt evidence-based practices, including empirically supported treatment and assessment methods. Evidence-based practice em- phasizes the systematic empirical evaluation of outcomes. Thus, one of the major developments in the delivery of mental health services over the last several years has been the increased pressure on providers to collect standardized outcome data on clients served. Such data are now required by many public and private agencies, l and quality of care requirements from major accreditation organizations such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) include collection of outcome data. 2 Despite all of the research, administrative, and policy attention to outcome measurement in mental health services, the actual clinical utility of outcome measurement remains largely unexamined. There are few studies examining clinicians' attitudes and behaviors regarding the use of outcome measurement in practice) However, there is likely great variability in the extent to which clinicians value empirically supported assessment and/or intervention practices. 4 Unless mandated, most clini- cians are not likely to use standardized measures to assess clients, nor to empirically evaluate progress Ad~ess correspondenceto Ann E Garland,PhD, Associate Director, Child and AdolescentServices Research Center, and AssociateProfessor in Psychiatry,University of California,San Diego, 3020 ChildrensWay (MC 5033), San Diego, CA 92123. E-mail:agarland@casrc.org. Marc Kruse,BA, was ResearchAssistant at the Childand Adolescent ServicesResearchCenterand is now in the Department of Psychologyat the University of Texas, Austin. GregoryA. Aarons,PhD, is Research Scientist at the Childand AdolescentServicesResearchCenterand AssistantClinical Professor in Psychiatryat the University of California,San Diego. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 2003, 30(4), 393M05. @ 2003 National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. Clinicians and Outcome Measurement GARLAND et al. 393