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Assessing and Improving the Quality in Mental Health Services

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  • Lampros Samartzis

    (Faculty of Economics and Management, Open University of Cyprus, Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus
    Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
    Mental Health Services, Athalassa Psychiatric Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus)

  • Michael A. Talias

    (Faculty of Economics and Management, Open University of Cyprus, Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus)

Abstract

Background: The mental health of the population consists of the three essential pillars of quality of life, economy, and society. Mental health services take care of the prevention and treatment of mental disorders and through them maintain, improve, and restore the mental health of the population. The purpose of this study is to describe the methodology for qualitative and quantitative evaluation and improvement of the mental health service system. Methods: This is a narrative review study that searches the literature to provide criteria, indicators, and methodology for evaluating and improving the quality of mental health services and the related qualitative and quantitative indicators. The bibliography was searched in popular databases PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, using the keywords “mental”, “health”, “quality”, “indicators”, alone or in combinations thereof. Results: Important quality indicators of mental health services have been collected and presented, and modified where appropriate. The definition of each indicator is presented here, alongside its method of calculation and importance. Each indicator belongs to one of the eight dimensions of quality assessment: (1) Suitability of services, (2) Accessibility of patients to services, (3) Acceptance of services by patients, (4) Ability of healthcare professionals to provide services, (5) Efficiency of health professionals and providers, (6) Continuity of service over time (ensuring therapeutic continuity), (7) Efficiency of health professionals and services, (8) Safety (for patients and for health professionals). Discussion/Conclusions: Accessibility and acceptability of service indicators are important for the attractiveness of services related to their use by the population. Profitability indicators are important economic indicators that affect the viability and sustainability of services, factors that are now taken into account in any health policy. All of the indicators mentioned are related to public health, affecting the quality of life, morbidity, mortality, and life expectancy, directly or indirectly. The systematic measurement and monitoring of indicators and the measurement and quantification of quality through them, are the basis for evidence-based health policy for improvement of the quality of mental health services.

Suggested Citation

  • Lampros Samartzis & Michael A. Talias, 2019. "Assessing and Improving the Quality in Mental Health Services," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-31, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2019:i:1:p:249-:d:303151
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Minna Sadeniemi & Nerea Almeda & Jose A. Salinas-Pérez & Mencía R. Gutiérrez-Colosía & Carlos García-Alonso & Taina Ala-Nikkola & Grigori Joffe & Sami Pirkola & Kristian Wahlbeck & Jordi Cid & Luis Sa, 2018. "A Comparison of Mental Health Care Systems in Northern and Southern Europe: A Service Mapping Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, May.
    2. Ian Cummins, 2018. "The Impact of Austerity on Mental Health Service Provision: A UK Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-11, June.
    3. Mayer Bellehsen & Jacqueline Moline & Rehana Rasul & Kristin Bevilacqua & Samantha Schneider & Jason Kornrich & Rebecca M. Schwartz, 2019. "A Quality Improvement Assessment of the Delivery of Mental Health Services among WTC Responders Treated in the Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-14, April.
    4. Nerea Almeda & Carlos R. García-Alonso & José A. Salinas-Pérez & Mencía R. Gutiérrez-Colosía & Luis Salvador-Carulla, 2019. "Causal Modelling for Supporting Planning and Management of Mental Health Services and Systems: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-20, January.
    5. Benhong Peng & Yue Li & Guo Wei & Ehsan Elahi, 2018. "Temporal and Spatial Differentiations in Environmental Governance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, October.
    6. Nick Bouras & George Ikkos & Thomas Craig, 2018. "From Community to Meta-Community Mental Health Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-10, April.
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