Routine outcome monitoring and feedback in alcohol and other drug treatment: A qualitative study of client perspectives on implementation.

Introduction: Routine outcome monitoring (ROM) and feedback is an evidence-supported strategy for evaluating alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment outcomes. However, the implementation of ROM and feedback into AOD services remains a significant challenge. Research aimed at understanding client perspectives on ROM and feedback is needed to facilitate successful implementation. This study examined experiences with and perceptions of ROM and feedback in a sample of clients receiving AOD treatment.

Methods: Interviews and online surveys were conducted with N = 26 people (13 male; M_age = 36.12 years, SD = 10.29) enrolled in an AOD treatment program in Australia. Data analysis of the transcripts was guided by thematic analysis, while descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative survey data.

Results: Four major themes were identified in the qualitative data: (i) ROM and feedback is valuable to AOD treatment; (ii) clear and concise outcome measures with an integrated feedback loop are vital to reliable ROM; (iii) desire for visual and verbal feedback that highlights progress; and (iv) ROM and feedback can be emotionally challenging.

Discussion and conclusions: Participants valued ROM when it was clearly integrated within AOD treatment and they received feedback on their responses. Potential facilitators to implementing and improving the provision of ROM and feedback in AOD treatment include: (i) a clear, treatment-based rationale to foster client buy-in for ROM and maximise AOD treatment benefit; (ii) brief outcome measure surveys; and (iii) graphical visualisations of ROM feedback.