Destigmatization Among Primary Health Care Providers

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to learn if an educational program can reduce stigma toward mental illness among primary health care providers. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does the educational program decrease stigma toward mental illness among participants?
* How does the program improve knowledge about mental illness?
* What beliefs about mental illness do participants hold before and after the program? Researcher will compare the intervention group, who will receive the educational program, to a control group that will not receive the program to see if the educational program is effective in reducing stigma and improving knowledge.

Participants will:

Attend educational sessions designed to increase awareness and understanding of mental illness.

Complete questionnaires about their attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge regarding mental illness before and after the program.

Provide demographic information and professional background details.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program designed to reduce stigma toward mental illness among primary health care providers in Kirkuk, Iraq. Given the critical role healthcare providers play in identifying and supporting individuals with mental health issues, addressing stigma is essential for improving mental health care delivery.

Study Design: The study will utilize a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, with participants assigned to either an intervention group that receives the educational program or a control group that does not. This design will allow for a comparison of outcomes between the two groups.

Participants: Participants will include healthcare providers working in primary health care centers, specifically from the psychosocial, health promotion, and school health units. Primary healthcare providers within those centers will be chosen through simple random sampling to ensure a representative sample of participants.

Intervention: The educational program will consist of interactive sessions that cover topics such as the nature of mental illness, its impact on individuals and families, effective communication strategies, and methods for providing empathetic care. The program will be delivered over eight sessions, including both lectures and group discussions to facilitate engagement and learning.

Outcomes: The primary outcomes will include:

Changes in stigma levels, assessed through the Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC).

Changes in knowledge about mental health, evaluated using the Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire (MHKQ).

Beliefs about mental illness, measured through the Beliefs toward Mental Illness scale (BMI).

Reported and intended behaviors toward individuals with mental health problems, assessed using the Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale.

Data will be collected at three time points: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at a follow-up stage to assess the sustainability of the program's effects.

Data Analysis: Statistical analyses will be conducted to compare pre- and post-intervention results between the intervention and control groups. Changes in stigma, knowledge, and beliefs will be analyzed to determine the program's overall effectiveness.

Significance: By evaluating the impact of this educational program, the study aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for training healthcare providers in culturally sensitive mental health care practices. Ultimately, the findings could lead to improved mental health outcomes in the community by fostering a more supportive environment for individuals experiencing mental health issues.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Currently holding a position in the government health sector in Kirkuk City.
* Actively engaged in delivering assistance to clients.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not directly involved in delivering assistance to clients.
* Unwilling to participate in the educational program.