Barriers to Progress Feedback Adoption in Outpatient Geriatric Mental Healthcare: Exploring Age-Related Factors - A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Monitoring treatment progress through progress feedback is recognized for its efficacy and demonstrated value. However, its integration and utilization within treatments still need to be improved. Insufficient understanding exists regarding the factors within geriatric mental healthcare influencing the adoption of progress feedback. This study aimed to explore the determinants impacting the utilization of progress feedback within outpatient geriatric mental healthcare, specifically focusing on age-related perspectives and patient group characteristics. This qualitative investigation employed semi-structured interviews involving clinicians (N = 14) selected from four outpatient geriatric teams. The findings revealed both inhibiting and facilitating perspectives concerning progress feedback. Clinicians preferred user-friendly, specific, and tailored measures. Challenges included organizational support, integration in work processes, training, and the digital progress feedback system. Age-related perspectives such as older adults’ diverse issues, limited digital skills, and cognitive problems hindered implementation, particularly in the oldest generation of older patients. In outpatient geriatric mental healthcare, many factors and attitudes influencing progress feedback align with those observed in adult psychiatry literature. Moreover, this study highlights specific age-related factors that impede the adoption and implementation of progress feedback, shedding light on the specific barriers within this context.