Interrater reliability of the Camberwell Assessment of Need Short Appraisal Schedule

Abstract

Objective: Australian mental health policy aims to introduce evidence-based practice within a community care approach. This aim requires reliable measures that can be used by a wide variety of professionals. The interrater reliability of the Camberwell Assessment of Need Short Appraisal Schedule (CANSAS) was assessed under routine conditions. Method: Three interviewer-observer dyads assessed the needs of 14 inpatients and 18 day patients of a psychiatric rehabilitation unit in New South Wales, Australia. Results: Agreement on the identification of an area of need was high. However, agreement was higher on patient ratings than on staff ratings. Correlations on staff ratings of met needs were ..