Developing CASPAR: a computer-assisted system for patient assessment and referral.

Area of Science:

• Addiction treatment
• Clinical informatics
• Counseling psychology

Background:

• Counselors often face challenges connecting clients with appropriate community services.
• Effective client referrals are crucial for successful addiction treatment outcomes.
• The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) is a standard tool for assessing client problems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a computer-based resource guide (RG) on counselor referral practices.
• To assess the effectiveness of RG-assisted treatment planning compared to standard methods.
• To provide resources and guidance for implementing RGs in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• A study compared counselors using standard Addiction Severity Index (ASI) training with those receiving additional training on a computer-based resource guide (RG).
• Client treatment plans and service utilization were analyzed.
• The study focused on referrals to free or low-cost community services.

Main Results:

• Clients whose counselors used the RG had treatment plans significantly better matched to their presenting problems.
• These clients received significantly more and better-matched services.
• Counselor use of the RG was further analyzed in this study.

Conclusions:

• A computer-based resource guide (RG) enhances the quality of treatment planning and service matching for clients with substance use disorders.
• The RG facilitates more effective referrals, leading to improved client outcomes.
• The study provides a database and implementation guidance for developing and maintaining RGs.