Evolution of a Client-Level Dataset: 20 Years of National Child Traumatic Stress Network Data Collection

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Trauma-Informed Care
• Clinical Quality Improvement

Background:

• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has focused on Clinical Quality Improvement (ClQI) for 20 years.
• NCTSN is a US federally funded initiative enhancing care for children and families exposed to trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of NCTSN's data collection efforts on ClQI.
• To identify factors influencing the advancement of child traumatic stress initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Examined three initiatives: Core Data Set (CDS), Clinical Improvement through Measurement Initiative (CIMI) Measurement Based Care (MBC), and CIMI Data Sharing (CIMI-DS).
• Collected and analyzed client-level data from nearly 26,500 participants across 91 sites.
• Utilized the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to assess external influences.

Main Results:

• External forces like funding, policy, and societal shifts significantly impact ClQI.
• Collaboration, technology, and adaptable data collection are crucial for advancing ClQI and child traumatic stress care.
• Decades of data collection have informed best practices.

Conclusions:

• Lessons learned and recommendations for creating large, query-able datasets across networks.
• Insights provided to support the integration of data into clinical practice.
• Emphasized the importance of sustained data collection for ongoing quality improvement.