Developing a Mental Health Experience of Services (MHES) Survey for Scotland
This report explores and summarises the requirements from and options for a National Mental Health Experience of Services (MHES) survey. The MHES would gather regular data on service user experiences and help inform standards measurement and service improvement, policy development and NHS reform.
Cost considerations
The following table illustrates three potential survey options representing a small, medium, and large scale and cost. Please note that this does not include all aspects of survey design, as some elements, e.g., ethical considerations, and data privacy, will be similar regardless of the scale.
|
Survey element |
Small scale / cost |
Medium scale / cost |
Large scale / cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Survey audience / services included |
Services users of one service e.g. inpatient only |
A small number of services, sampling all who have used or attempted to access |
All who have used or attempted to access any mental health services in Scotland. Potentially wider sampling of carers, family and friends |
|
Sample size |
Will vary significantly depending on the services included. For small or medium scale surveys, it may be necessary to combine multiple waves of survey data on a rolling basis to enable sub-group analysis. |
Will vary significantly depending on the services included. For small or medium scale surveys, it may be necessary to combine multiple waves of survey data on a rolling basis to enable sub-group analysis. |
Will vary significantly depending on the services included. |
|
Distribution method |
Via services, e.g. reception staff or QR codes on posters, or through third-sector organisations |
Via email or text message using contact details collected by services |
Via letter/email/text message using contact details in existing service-user databases |
|
Data collection method |
Online with limited alternatives or support options |
Primarily online with options for paper alternative and some support to complete available |
Primarily online with paper alternatives, helpline support, many accessibility options including translations available |
|
Survey length |
5-10 minutes |
15-20 minutes |
No more than 30 minutes |
|
Survey content |
High-level questions on what worked well, what did not work well, and what improvements are needed |
Questions covering accessing services, experience of waiting times, moving between different services and support and overall experiences |
Comprehensive survey questions covering a range of topics, with survey routing to different question sets by service or type of mental health condition |
|
Period of reflection |
Most recent service experience / last year |
Last six to 12 months |
The past few years |
|
Frequency |
Annual |
Annual or continuous |
Continuous |
|
Reporting |
Published nationally, with local or service-level data available at a level which does not identify respondents |
Published nationally, with local or service-level data available at a level which does not identify respondents |
Published nationally, with local or service-level data available at a level which does not identify respondents |
Contact
Email: socialresearch@gov.scot