AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Shared Decisionmaking Tools plus Peer Support Lead to More Efficient and Effective Mental Health Consultations and High Satisfaction

Shared Decisionmaking Tools plus Peer Support Lead to More Efficient and Effective Mental Health Consultations and High Satisfaction

Snapshot
Summary
A program known as CommonGround uses paper-based and computerized decision support tools and peer specialists to help mental health clients identify treatment preferences and effectively communicate them to clinicians. Before meeting with a clinician, clients spend roughly 30 minutes working through a decision support tool that generates a consultation report and self-management suggestions for reference during the subsequent 15-minute consultation. The clinician and the client review the report and access additional decision aids to address specific concerns. Peer specialists are available to assist with completion of the initial tool and to help the client access additional information or complete other decision aids after the visit. The program has proven easy for people diagnosed with mental illness to use; has led to frequent use of shared decisionmaking between clinician and patients; and has increased the effectiveness and efficiency of consultations, leading to high levels of satisfaction among clients. Ongoing studies are evaluating the program's impact on clinical outcomes.

Evidence Rating
Suggestive: The evidence consists of post-implementation analysis of use of the program and the shared decisionmaking approach, feedback from clinician and client focus groups on the efficiency and effectiveness of consultations, and the results from client surveys exploring various aspects of their satisfaction with the program


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AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Shared Decisionmaking Tools plus Peer Support Lead to More Efficient and Effective Mental Health Consultations and High Satisfaction