December 2007

Informed Consent: Strategies to Improve the Experience of Massachusetts Mental Health Consumers

This issue brief summarizes the findings of a survey of mental health consumers conducted by Consumer Quality Initiatives (CQI). By collecting consumer survey data from 2000 to 2005, CQI found that a majority of outpatient clients where satisfied with informed consent information received, only half of hospitalized patients were equally satisfied. Involuntary patients and homeless patients were the least satisfied. CQI recommended that the public mental health system promote evidence-based to promote shared decision making. For providers, the recommendation is to provide training in the Illness Management and Recovery approach; for clients, the recommendation is to provide patient decision aids, curriculum-based training, and peer support.