Comparing functional and integrated mental health care (COFI-FU)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
COMPARING POLICY FRAMEWORK, STRUCTURE, EFFECTIVENESS AND COST EFFECTIVENESS OF FUNCTIONAL AND INTEGRATED SYSTEMS OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE - FOLLOW UP (acronym:COFI-FU)
IRAS ID
163352
Contact name
Stefan Priebe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 30 days
Research summary
Mental disorders cause high levels of disability and burden, as well as significant healthcare costs. There is a need to maximise the effectiveness of mental health care through an optimal service organisation. Two systems of mental health care can be identified: 1) integrated systems: care is provided by staff led by the same consultant across inpatient and outpatient services; 2) functional systems: care is provided by staff led by different consultants in distinct services. The overall aim of the main COFI study is to compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the functional and integrated systems of mental health care and the comparison considers clinical and social outcomes as well as costs, quality and safety of care within the two systems and patient reported outcomes. This is an application for a follow-up study which will take place one year after recruitment and will gather more in-depth information about patients' treatment through qualitative and quantitative interviews. Participants in the main COFI study have already consented to be contacted for this follow up study before the baseline assessment took place. COFI-FU will be conducted in 11 mental health Trusts in the United Kingdom (UK), in the areas of North Essex, Cornwall, Dudley, South Staffordshire, East London, North East London, Camden and Islington, Oxford, Bradford, Penine and Manchester. These areas are representative of different geographic contexts, are located in urban/rural areas and have a wide range of different caseloads. The study is part of a multicentre European study carried out in five countries (Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland, UK) of which the Queen Mary University of London is the coordinator centre. The follow up project will also occur in the other four countries, i.e. Belgium, Germany, Italy and Poland.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1693
Date of REC Opinion
27 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion