Is it ACT yet? Real-world examples of evaluating the degree of implementation for assertive community treatment. J Behav Health Serv Res 2003;30(3):304-20
Date
07/24/2003Pubmed ID
12875098DOI
10.1007/BF02287319Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0038502185 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 56 CitationsAbstract
Despite growing interest in assessment of program implementation, little is known about the best way to evaluate whether a particular program has implemented the intended service to a level that is minimally acceptable to a funding source, such as a state mental health authority. Such is the case for assertive community treatment (ACT), an evidence-based practice being widely disseminated. Using an exploratory, actuarial approach to defining program standards, this study applies different statistical criteria for determining whether or not a program meets ACT standards using the 28-item Dartmouth Assertive Community Treatment Scale. The sample consists of 51 ACT programs, 25 intensive case management programs, and 11 brokered case management programs which were compared to identify levels of fidelity that discriminated between programs, but were still attainable by the majority of ACT programs. A grading system based on mean total score for a reduced set of 21 items appeared to be most attainable, but still discriminated ACT programs from other forms of case management. Implications for setting and evaluating ACT program standards are discussed.
Author List
Salyers MP, Bond GR, Teague GB, Cox JF, Smith ME, Hicks ML, Koop JIAuthor
Jennifer I. Koop Olsta PhD Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Case ManagementCommunity Mental Health Services
Evidence-Based Medicine
Financing, Government
Humans
Program Evaluation
Therapeutic Community
United States
