Threshold 3: the feasibility of the Threshold Assessment Grid (TAG) for routine assessment of the severity of mental health problems

Background Evidence-based practice requires the development of measures which are suitable for everyday clinical use ('feasible'). There is no consensus as to how to establish feasibility. Method The feasibility of a new assessment - the Threshold Assessment Grid (TAG) - for use when making referrals to mental health services was tested by training mental health teams in using the TAG and other standardised assessments, asking referrers to ten mental health services in London also to complete a TAG, surveying TAG users, and evaluating a feedback meeting at which TAG data were presented. Results One hundred and one (61%) mental health staff received training, and 445 (74%) referrers of 600 patients completed TAGs. Sixty-five (65%) questionnaires from TAG users were completed, and 24 (80%) people attending feedback meetings evaluated the TAG. These allowed the extent to which the TAG is brief, simple, relevant, acceptable, available and valuable to be investigated. Conclusion The TAG exhibited good feasibility when used by mental health staff, and moderate feasibility when used by referrers. This approach can be used to investigate the feasibility of other standardised assessments.