DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING OUTCOME EVALUATIONS: SOME GUIDELINES FOR PRACTITIONERS

In the current health care environment, practitioners are increasingly asked to provide data about patient outcomes. Many of the outcome variables valued by third-party payers may seem reductionistic to clinicians, and a comprehensive assessment of the multidimensional nature of response to psychotherapy is an overwhelming task for the practitioner. Nevertheless, it is possible to produce data that are quantifiable and understandable to non-clinicians and that also contribute to a clinical understanding of patient outcomes. This article discusses some of the issues involved in conducting such research and offers practical suggestions for clinicians interested in designing and implementing outcome evaluations.