TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of the mental health and dynamic referral for oncology (MHADRO) program on oncology patient outcomes, health care utilization, and health provider behaviors
T2 - A multi-site randomized control trial
AU - O'Hea, Erin
AU - Kroll-Desrosiers, Aimee
AU - Cutillo, Alexandra S.
AU - Michalak, Hannah R.
AU - Barton, Bruce A.
AU - Harralson, Tina
AU - Carmack, Cindy
AU - McMahon, Cori
AU - Boudreaux, Edwin D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019
PY - 2020/3
Y1 - 2020/3
N2 - Objective: The MHADRO assesses psychosocial and medical needs, provides tailored feedback reports, and connects patients to mental health providers. This study examined the MHADRO's effect on patient outcomes, health care utilization, and oncology provider documentation and behaviors. Methods: 836 patients were part of a multi-site RCT and assessments were conducted at baseline, 2, 6 and 12 months. Results: The intervention group engaged in less emergency calls to providers. There were no differences in psychosocial outcomes at follow up assessments. Providers of patients in the intervention group were more likely to: document psychosocial symptoms and history; refer to psychosocial services; encourage support groups; seek psychological evaluations during visits. Patients who agreed to a mental health referral had decreased hospitalizations, increased mental health care interactions, and stronger ratings of counseling potential benefits. This group also reported increased psychosocial distress at all follow-up assessments. Conclusion: The MHADRO may increase access to mental health care, lessen utilization, and improve providers’ management of psychosocial needs, but does not appear to impact overall functioning over time. Practice Implications: Providers are encouraged to consider incorporating programs, like the MHADRO, into patient care as they may have the potential to impact screening and management of patients’ psychosocial needs.
AB - Objective: The MHADRO assesses psychosocial and medical needs, provides tailored feedback reports, and connects patients to mental health providers. This study examined the MHADRO's effect on patient outcomes, health care utilization, and oncology provider documentation and behaviors. Methods: 836 patients were part of a multi-site RCT and assessments were conducted at baseline, 2, 6 and 12 months. Results: The intervention group engaged in less emergency calls to providers. There were no differences in psychosocial outcomes at follow up assessments. Providers of patients in the intervention group were more likely to: document psychosocial symptoms and history; refer to psychosocial services; encourage support groups; seek psychological evaluations during visits. Patients who agreed to a mental health referral had decreased hospitalizations, increased mental health care interactions, and stronger ratings of counseling potential benefits. This group also reported increased psychosocial distress at all follow-up assessments. Conclusion: The MHADRO may increase access to mental health care, lessen utilization, and improve providers’ management of psychosocial needs, but does not appear to impact overall functioning over time. Practice Implications: Providers are encouraged to consider incorporating programs, like the MHADRO, into patient care as they may have the potential to impact screening and management of patients’ psychosocial needs.
KW - Cancer
KW - Health care utilization
KW - Psychological distress
KW - Psychosocial intervention
KW - Technology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85075941320&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85075941320&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pec.2019.10.006
DO - 10.1016/j.pec.2019.10.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 31753521
AN - SCOPUS:85075941320
SN - 0738-3991
VL - 103
SP - 607
EP - 616
JO - Patient Education and Counseling
JF - Patient Education and Counseling
IS - 3
ER -