Understanding the differential impact of outcome monitoring: therapist variables that moderate feedback effects in a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Providing outcome monitoring feedback to therapists seems to be a promising approach to improve outcomes in clinical practice. This study aims to examine the effect of feedback and investigate whether it is moderated by therapist characteristics. Patients (n=413) were randomly assigned to either a feedback or a no-feedback control condition. There was no significant effect of feedback in the full sample, but feedback was effective for not-on-track cases for therapists who used the feedback. Internal feedback propensity, self-efficacy, and commitment to use the feedback moderated the effects of feedback. The results demonstrate that feedback is not effective under all circumstances and therapist factors are important when implementing feedback in clinical practice.