Title
Service quality as measured by service fit and mortality among public mental health system service recipients
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Psychiatry
Publication Date
7-1-2004
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Adult; Female; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Male; Mental Health Services; Middle Aged; *Mortality; *Public Sector; *Quality of Health Care; Risk Adjustment; United States
Disciplines
Health Services Research | Mental and Social Health | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychiatry | Psychiatry and Psychology
Abstract
Service fit, defined as consistency between mental health services judged needed and services received was measured for a random sample of service recipients in a public mental health system (N = 6588). A variant of small area analysis was used to measure the relationship between catchment area mortality rates from natural causes, suicide, and medicolegal causes and area fit scores for a variety of services. We tested the theory-based hypothesis that service fit would predict interarea variations in mortality better than simple measures of amount of service prescribed and received. We also tested the hypothesis that, controlling for relevant demographic and clinical factors, fit would be protective for mortality from all causes. Findings supported the first hypothesis. With respect to the second, service fit for only certain services was protective. Housing and clubhouses services were particularly protective, suggesting the importance of services providing social support.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Ment Health Serv Res. 2004 Jun;6(2):93-107.
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Mental health services research
Related Resources
PubMed ID
15224453
Repository Citation
Leff, H. Stephen; McPartland, James C.; Banks, Steven M.; Dembling, Bruce; Fisher, William H.; and Allen, I. Elaine, "Service quality as measured by service fit and mortality among public mental health system service recipients" (2004). Systems and Psychosocial Advances Research Center Publications and Presentations. 313.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/psych_cmhsr/313
