Psychotherapy, Vol 63(1), Mar 2026, 33-47; doi:10.1037/pst0000605
Routine outcome monitoring (ROM) has become an increasingly utilized tool in therapeutic practice that has the potential to improve therapy outcomes. This study aimed to synthesize the findings of existing qualitative studies investigating facilitators and barriers to clinicians’ implementation of ROM in their practice. A systematic search of qualitative studies on clinicians’ experience with the use of ROM in mental health services was conducted via APA PsycInfo, APA PsycArticles, Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Qualitative meta-analysis was used to synthesize the findings of the primary studies. Fifty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The analysis resulted in 22 metacategories organized into five clusters: (a) perceived clinical relevance, (b) institutional aspects, (c) practical aspects, (d) client variables, and (e) clinicians’ personal reactions. The meta-analysis revealed that the implementation of ROM into clinicians’ psychotherapy practice is influenced by many factors, including practical circumstances such as the work environment, the clientele, and the chosen ROM system. Clinicians’ attitude to ROM, its perceived usefulness, and their openness to receiving feedback on their work are also important variables. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)