Practice-based Outcome Research

Practice-based outcome research focuses on using quantitative measures and (sometimes) qualitative approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy provided by specific clinics and organisations. The following articles illustrate various ways in which this kind of research has been carried out. When reading these articles, make notes on the data collection and analysis strategies that could be relevant to your own research, or to the work of the therapy centre, clinic or practice in which you see clients.

Readings

Allen, C. W., Siedlecki, T., Nagel, A. G., Tan, J. S., Datta, P., Henkler, K. C., & Allen, J. P. (2018). Brief behavioral interventions at free medical fairs. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 53(5–6), 371–383

A study of single session counselling – uses forms completed by therapist and client during session, plus a follow-up phone interview

Beaulac, J., & Sandre, D. (2015). Impact of a CBT psychotherapy group on post-operative bariatric patients. Springerplus, 4(1), 1–5.

An example of how data collection can be incorporated into routine practice to establish evidence in relation to an under-researched intervention. Limitation is absence of use of criteria for estimating clinically significant/reliable change 

Haslam, S., Parsons, A., Omylinska-Thurston, J., Nair, K., Harlow, J., Lewis, J., ... & Karkou, V. (2019). Arts for the Blues–a new creative psychological therapy for depression: a pilot workshop report. Perspectives in Public Health, 139(3), 137–146. 

A minimal study – forms filled in at the end of a demonstration workshop – that nevertheless makes a meaningful contribution to the development of a new approach to depression. An important aspect of this paper is the way the approach is described

Hodge, S., Barr, W., Bowen, L. Leeven, M. & Knox, P. (2012). Exploring the role of an emotional support and counselling service for people with visual impairments. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 31, 5–19.

Example of some typical, widely-used strategies for collecting and analyzing data on routine practice.

Hughes, C., Barr, A., & Graham, J. (2019). Who comes to the school counsellor and what do they talk about. New Zealand Journal of Counselling, 39(1), 40–70

Interesting and informative descriptive analysis of an important dimension of outcome (client intake profile) carried out by counsellors analysing their own data 

Manthei, R. (2017). A portrait of counselling: comparison of private practice with agencies. New Zealand Journal of Counselling, 37(2), 20–36.

Analysis of the effectiveness of one therapist

Raknes, S., Dyregrov, K., Pallesen, S., Hoffart, A., Stormyren, S., & Haugland, B. S. M. (2017). A pilot study of a low-threshold, low-intensity cognitive behavioral intervention for traumatized adolescents. Scandinavian Psychologist, 4, e8. DOI: 10.15714/scandpsychol.4.e8. 

An example of how data collection can be incorporated into routine practice to establish evidence in relation to a new type of therapy with a specific client group. Used qualitative data to provide insight into change process, alongside standard quantitative outcome measures. Limitation is absence of use of criteria for estimating clinically significant/reliable change

Tornero, M. D., & Capella, C. (2017). Change during psychotherapy through sand play tray in children that have been sexually abused. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 617. 

Evaluates the use of sandtray therapy through observation of sessions

Williams, R., Farquharson, L., Palmer, L., Bassett, P., Clarke, J., Clark, D. M., & Crawford, M. J. (2016). Patient preference in psychological treatment and associations with self-reported outcome: national cross-sectional survey in England and Wales. BMC Psychiatry, 16(1), 1–8

Used a post-therapy survey questionnaire circulated to all clients