This article provides practical strategies and tips for boosting patient engagement and completing measurement-informed care (MIC) surveys.
Patient challenges related to completing measurement-informed care surveys
Some patients may express reluctance or difficulty in completing surveys that ask about their mental health symptoms and the strength of the therapeutic relationship.
Common barriers might include worrying about their personal information being misused or not kept confidential, busy schedules making it difficult to remember to complete the surveys, sensitivity around disclosing the severity of mental health symptoms, substance use, or suicidal ideation, and challenges with language or literacy.
The following practical strategies and tips can equip providers to meet patient’s needs and address common barriers.
Tips for increasing completion of measurement surveys
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Create space to address patient questions and concerns in an empathetic manner. Negative past experiences, unclear purpose or benefits, or difficulties with reading and comprehension can all challenge a patient’s completion of MIC surveys. If a patient seems hesitant, actively listen to their concerns by asking clarifying questions. Validate their feelings to create a safe space for open communication. This empathetic and supportive approach is the first step to encouraging participation and increasing response rates.
If a patient reports being "too busy" to complete the MIC surveys, explore solutions together. Motivational interviewing techniques can be particularly useful, and offering the patient a few moments at the start of the session to find the link and complete the surveys in real-time can be helpful. MIC innately helps patients engage in routine self-monitoring and reflection, and we want to support them in prioritizing that during treatment and beyond. -
Explain MIC simply. Avoid jargon and encourage patients to think of MIC in treatment as no different than having their vital signs taken every visit. Tracking symptoms and how the patient feels about treatment helps providers understand their progress and make changes to treatment if needed. Just like vitals, MIC helps proividers give the best care possible.
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Show patients how measures connect to their treatment plan or goals. Some patients might not see the point of MIC if the questions don't seem relevant. Helping patients to “connect the dots” between the items on the various measures and their individual goals for treatment can help them see the immense value of completing these surveys.
Case in point, for a patient with an anxiety disorder diagnosis who is being treated with an SSRI, and is struggling to sleep, consider how their response to the GAD-7 item #2, “Not being able to stop control or worrying,” could give insight into the progress of treatment. Is ruminating, racing thoughts keeping them awake? The provider and patient could use this to continue monitoring the targeted treatment plan and adust doses or provide education on medication mechanism of action. The measure can help monitor and manage maladaptive thoughts and improve sleep.
Key takeaways
Meet the patient where they’re at. Stay curious about potential barriers to survey completion, including patient comfort level and understanding. Create space to validate concerns, address questions, and explain the benefits.
Make completing measures a regular part of care. Consistently discussing the clinical benefits of the measures and finding meaningful ways to incorporate them into care sets the stage for the patient to complete them on an ongoing basis.
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