The pragmatic implementation and evaluation of a mental healthcare decision support intervention

The complexity of the healthcare sector makes service planning incredibly difficult, so managers are turning to new methods of data analysis to improve their decision-making. However, little is known about the effectiveness and day-to-day use of these methods. Through a longitudinal case study of the use of simulation modelling by managers of an Australian mental health service, this research found that the main factor affecting service planning is not the decision-making method, but the constantly changing policy and funding environment. For researchers, this means that a more flexible approach to program implementation is required that is resilient to context changes.