CAHPS Mental Health Services Survey. Collaboration between UMass Chan Medical School and UMass Boston

This study will survey patients who have been seen for either mental health or substance use disorder care. For this project we are partnering with the UMass Boston Center for Survey Research (CSR) has collaborated for decades with researchers from Yale University to develop and test patient experience surveys for the Consumer Assessments of Providers and Systems (CAHPS) grant with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Study goal:

To assess the validity and reliability of the CAHPS survey. The study will examine the responses to the survey and will be used to improve the survey.

Who will be surveyed?

• Patients of four family medicine practices affiliated with UMass Memorial Health Care (Benedict, Hahnemann, Barre, or Fitchburg)
• Only English speaking adults (18 years old and above),
• Patients who had a visit in the last 6 months
• Patients whose medical record includes a diagnosis of mental health or substance use disorder, excluding the use of nicotine.

What does the survey ask?

Information about patient experiences with counselors and prescribers of medication for mental health conditions (see attachment), such as getting appointments, finding providers, communication with providers, and demographics.