Background Electronic Audit and Feedback (eA&F) interventions aim to improve patient care by presenting clinicians with summarised information of clinical performance over time. We created an eA&F intervention to assist clinicians in the management of psychosis in the community.
Methods The eA&F intervention was created collaborative between informaticians, computer scientists and clinicians and summarises population-level data on service useage, medications, psychological interventions and physical health on an interactive platform. We evaluated its usability usingt he systems usability scale (SUS), outcome data on physical health monitoring (Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure) using difference-in-difference analysis and interviewed clinicians, interpreting the data using thematic analysis.
Results The system showed good usability (72 on SUS), although did not lead to improved recording of physical health or improved patient outcomes during the course of the study. Thematic analysis of interview data showed high numbers of statements around systemic barriers, and significant unrealised potential gains.
Conclusions Our study represents a first attempt to create an eA&F intervention for use in mental healthcare. Patient outcomes were not improved in the limited scope of the study, however clinicians identified a number of unrealised gains. They also highlighted the need for protected time for reviewing data, training for clinicians and ensuring that there are empowered individuals within the team responsible for reviewing and responding to the data.