Traffic Lights
The traffic light system provides a simple, user-friendly clinical guide to whether a client is moving in the right direction — and by how much.
Measuring change
There are many methods of identifying change in treatment. Some systems use algorithms based on large normative data samples, others use reliable change indices, others look at moving-to-recovery rates. All have strengths, weaknesses, and limitations.
Our approach
Because SolveFit Tracker works with many different measures, each with its own characteristics, we use a simple traffic light system based on the percentage reduction in distress from the starting point. This provides a simple, useful clinical guide to whether a client is moving in the right direction.
What each colour means
Green
Greater than 25% reduction in distress from the initial score. The client is making meaningful progress.
Amber
Between 6% and 25% reduction in distress. Some change is happening, but progress is modest.
Red
5% or less change, or deterioration. Little or no change is occurring, or the client's distress has increased.
Calculations are always based on reduction in distress to create consistency across all measures.
How calculations work
Measures where a lower score signals improvement (e.g. GAD-7)
A reduction in score represents improvement. For example: initial score 16, score at 3rd appointment 12 → 4 point improvement → 4 ÷ 16 = 25% (amber).
Measures where a higher score signals improvement (e.g. SWEMWBS)
For wellbeing measures, we calculate the difference between each score and the maximum possible score — treating distance from the maximum as a proxy for distress. For example: max score 35, initial score 14 → 35 − 14 = 21; at 3rd session score 21 → 35 − 21 = 14. Reduction from 21 to 14 = 7 points → 7 ÷ 21 = 33.3% (green).
Focus on the colour, not the percentage
Don't get distracted by the exact percentage value — pay attention to the colour. The actual measure scores are always visible. Data can be exported to Excel if you wish to analyse according to other criteria or apply your own benchmarks.
Pragmatism vs scientific rigour
Measuring change through questionnaires is not the same as measuring body temperature. Scientists argue about how to calculate effect sizes, and different instruments vary in their properties. We've chosen a very simple approach to answering the most important clinical question: is change happening? We're confident our approach provides a simple, user-friendly, pragmatic clinical tool that is genuinely useful in day-to-day practice.
Customised traffic lights
Clients wishing traffic light alerts based on different criteria — algorithms, reliable change indices, or other thresholds — can have these implemented in a bespoke system. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.