DAWBA as a Rapid Online Assessment Tool

The European Union is funding this randomised trial in Scotland as part of the larger eCAP project (http://www.interreg-npa.eu/projects/funded-projects/project/139/). The need for psychiatric services for children and adolescents is usually greater than the services available. As well as this, in many cases, there is confusion as to which service the child or young person should be referred to. The way children and young people arrive at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) may therefore be relatively inefficient and families could suffer as a result of this inefficiency. The use of a computerised structured questionnaire such as the Development and Well-being Assessment (DAWBA) offers the opportunity for these difficulties to be addressed, for the avoidance of 'inappropriate referrals' and for more rational use of resources. It is usually administered online through a secure internet portal. At the end of the data collection, a computerised summary is generated from the data given by all the informants and a child/adolescent psychiatrist lists the likely diagnosis or diagnoses in a summary of the case and gives his view about the next steps. This is then made available to the referrer. This community-based study aims to establish whether using the DAWBA in this way helps children and young people with mental health problems. The main objectives are to improve their mental health, reduce waiting times, change referral practice, increase satisfaction in services and improve cost effectiveness. The principal outcome measure will be parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) score 6 months after randomisation. Secondary outcome measures will include teacher and child-rated SDQ at 6 months and waiting times to services. The investigators will also record service use data and family out -of -pocket costs. A random sample of young people, family and referrers will be interviewed to explore satisfaction with service.