In the past two years, the Trimbos Institute has developed a specific version of this general instrument for outpatient mental health services.
The new Consumer Quality Index (CQ index) covers three subjects:
- Greater transparency in health care
- More detailed information on client options
- Optimal accountability regarding the care provided
Within today’s market for specialist mental health services (GGZ), it is important to have the right kind of information for comparing the quality of the care provided from the client’s perspective. The new CQ index for outpatient GGZ fulfils this requirement. The CQ questionnaire comprises 63 items, and was officially approved in December 2008 by the Centre for Consumer Experience in Health Care.
Compared to the client appreciation thermometer which is a concise questionnaire often used in mental health care to date, the CQ index generates much more quantitative data. This is because the new instrument is not so much concerned with general satisfaction ratings, but asks more explicitly about frequency of experiences.
The CQ index thus helps to generate a detailed picture of the quality of a large number of aspects, such as information provision, medication policy, treatment, the information given on alternative options and on client rights, professional manner, waiting times, communication between health professionals and arrangements for aftercare.
The Trimbos Institute is currently developing further possible versions of the index for other client groups. In 2009 a CQ index will be tested among mental health in-patients and in those who live in sheltered accommodation as well as those who live independently. A pilot scheme has already shown that it is in any case possible to conduct a CQ index in these groups.
