Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA)—an open-source software facilitating evidence-based assessment for clinical services
Abstract Evidence-based assessment (EBA) in mental health is a critical aspect of improving patient outcomes and addressing the gaps in mental health care. EBA involves the use of psychometric instruments to gather data that can inform clinical decision-making, inform policymakers, and serve as a ba...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05201-0 |
| _version_ | 1797557353326837760 |
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| author | Ronan Zimmermann Jon Konjufca Peter Sakejo Mrema Kilonzo Yamil Quevedo Kathrin Blum Edison Biba Tumaini Mosha Marianne Cottin Cristóbal Hernández Sylvia Kaaya Aliriza Arenliu Alex Behn |
| author_facet | Ronan Zimmermann Jon Konjufca Peter Sakejo Mrema Kilonzo Yamil Quevedo Kathrin Blum Edison Biba Tumaini Mosha Marianne Cottin Cristóbal Hernández Sylvia Kaaya Aliriza Arenliu Alex Behn |
| author_sort | Ronan Zimmermann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Evidence-based assessment (EBA) in mental health is a critical aspect of improving patient outcomes and addressing the gaps in mental health care. EBA involves the use of psychometric instruments to gather data that can inform clinical decision-making, inform policymakers, and serve as a basis for research and quality management. Despite its potential, EBA is often hindered by barriers such as workload and cost, leading to its underutilization. Regarding low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), the implementation of EBA is recognized as a key strategy to address and close the prevalent mental health treatment gap. To simplify the application of EBA including in LMIC, an international team of researchers and practitioners from Tanzania, Kosovo, Chile, and Switzerland developed the Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA). MHIRA is an open-source electronic health record that streamlines EBA by digitising psychometric instruments and organising patient data in a user-friendly manner. It provides immediate and convenient reports to inform clinical decision-making. The current article provides a comprehensive overview of the features and technical details of MHIRA, as well as insights from four implementation scenarios. The experience gained during the implementations as well as the user-feedback suggests that MHIRA has the potential to be successfully implemented in a variety of clinical contexts and simplify the use of EBA. However, further research is necessary to establish its potential to sustainably transform healthcare services and impact patient outcomes. In conclusion, MHIRA represents an important step in promoting the widespread adoption of EBA in mental health. It offers a promising solution to the barriers that have limited the use of EBA in the past and holds the potential to improve patient outcomes and support the ongoing efforts to address gaps in mental health care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:15:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-17b47b2e7c9f471d883fac650c05821e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:15:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-17b47b2e7c9f471d883fac650c05821e2023-11-20T10:29:18ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2023-10-0123111410.1186/s12888-023-05201-0Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA)—an open-source software facilitating evidence-based assessment for clinical servicesRonan Zimmermann0Jon Konjufca1Peter Sakejo2Mrema Kilonzo3Yamil Quevedo4Kathrin Blum5Edison Biba6Tumaini Mosha7Marianne Cottin8Cristóbal Hernández9Sylvia Kaaya10Aliriza Arenliu11Alex Behn12Psychiatric University Hospitals of BaselFaculty of Psychology, University of BaselMuhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesFaculty of Psychology, University of BaselMillennium Institute for Depression and Personality Research (MIDAP)Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care, University of ZurichLeeto Digital AgencyCodeblockMillennium Institute for Depression and Personality Research (MIDAP)Millennium Institute for Depression and Personality Research (MIDAP)Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesUniversity of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”Millennium Institute for Depression and Personality Research (MIDAP)Abstract Evidence-based assessment (EBA) in mental health is a critical aspect of improving patient outcomes and addressing the gaps in mental health care. EBA involves the use of psychometric instruments to gather data that can inform clinical decision-making, inform policymakers, and serve as a basis for research and quality management. Despite its potential, EBA is often hindered by barriers such as workload and cost, leading to its underutilization. Regarding low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), the implementation of EBA is recognized as a key strategy to address and close the prevalent mental health treatment gap. To simplify the application of EBA including in LMIC, an international team of researchers and practitioners from Tanzania, Kosovo, Chile, and Switzerland developed the Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA). MHIRA is an open-source electronic health record that streamlines EBA by digitising psychometric instruments and organising patient data in a user-friendly manner. It provides immediate and convenient reports to inform clinical decision-making. The current article provides a comprehensive overview of the features and technical details of MHIRA, as well as insights from four implementation scenarios. The experience gained during the implementations as well as the user-feedback suggests that MHIRA has the potential to be successfully implemented in a variety of clinical contexts and simplify the use of EBA. However, further research is necessary to establish its potential to sustainably transform healthcare services and impact patient outcomes. In conclusion, MHIRA represents an important step in promoting the widespread adoption of EBA in mental health. It offers a promising solution to the barriers that have limited the use of EBA in the past and holds the potential to improve patient outcomes and support the ongoing efforts to address gaps in mental health care.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05201-0Evidence-based assessmentOpen-sourceMental healthSoftwareDigitalImplementation sciences |
| spellingShingle | Ronan Zimmermann Jon Konjufca Peter Sakejo Mrema Kilonzo Yamil Quevedo Kathrin Blum Edison Biba Tumaini Mosha Marianne Cottin Cristóbal Hernández Sylvia Kaaya Aliriza Arenliu Alex Behn Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA)—an open-source software facilitating evidence-based assessment for clinical services BMC Psychiatry Evidence-based assessment Open-source Mental health Software Digital Implementation sciences |
| title | Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA)—an open-source software facilitating evidence-based assessment for clinical services |
| title_full | Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA)—an open-source software facilitating evidence-based assessment for clinical services |
| title_fullStr | Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA)—an open-source software facilitating evidence-based assessment for clinical services |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA)—an open-source software facilitating evidence-based assessment for clinical services |
| title_short | Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA)—an open-source software facilitating evidence-based assessment for clinical services |
| title_sort | mental health information reporting assistant mhira an open source software facilitating evidence based assessment for clinical services |
| topic | Evidence-based assessment Open-source Mental health Software Digital Implementation sciences |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05201-0 |
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