Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA)--results of a Danish field trial.

INTRODUCTION

Assessment of the effectiveness of clinical practice requires appropriate outcome measures. Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA) is a recently developed measure of outcome for use in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). The aims of the present study were to evaluate sensitivity to change, face validity and clinical feasibility of HoNOSCA in a Danish field trial.

METHOD

A prospective design in which HoNOSCA, Global Assessment of Psychosocial Disability (GAPD) and a clinician rated global outcome measure were completed at 15 field sites. 173 patients were rated both at initial assessment and at follow-up after three months.

RESULTS

HoNOSCA demonstrated satisfactory face validity. There was a strong correlation between HoNOSCA scores and GAPD scores ( r = 0.6, P < 0.001) and a highly significant association (ANOVA (F = 25.4, P < 0.001)) between change in HoNOSCA scores and global clinical ratings of change. Mean HoNOSCA scores varied between psychiatric diagnoses.

CONCLUSIONS

HoNOSCA is a sensitive and valid measure of change for children and adolescents attending CAMHS.