Introduction Seminar About Patient Participation and Treatment Options for Psychiatric Patients on Waiting List

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Patient participation is a central concept in Norwegian health policy. It is mandatory in hospitals and emphasised as one of the most prioritised areas by the Government. Studies from Norway have repeatedly found that patients who seek help in community mental health centres (DPS) are dissatisfied with the information they receive and about their possibility for real influence in their treatment. One way to improve individual patient participation might be to give patients information before they start their treatment. This can be done as group based patient education to reduce the resources needed. Furthermore, as there are waiting lists for treatment, such introduction seminars could be held while patients are waiting to use this time in a meaningful way. The present study therefore aims at testing the effect of an introduction seminar for patients on waiting list in a community mental health centre.

Official Title
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Introduction Seminar About Patient Participation and Treatment Options for Patients on Waiting List in a Community Mental Health Centre - Development, Effect, Experiences and Costs

Conditions
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Mental Disorders

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Introduction seminar
* Other: Usual care


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients older than 18 years referred for out patient treatment who get a guarantee of starting treatment between 2 and 6 months will be included. Exclusion Criteria: patients with a guarantee of starting treatment in less than two months and patients who do not understand the consequences of taking part in the study

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Introduction seminar<br>Psychoeducation for patients on waiting list | Behavioral: Introduction seminar<br>* The seminar will be held over two half days, each lasting 2.5 hours. Up to 30 patients can participate in each seminar. The details of the content of the program will be developed based on study one. The preliminarily plans are to give general information about the community mental health centre, the available treatment options and patients rights by presentations from health personnel and user representatives. At the end of each day, the patients will be divided into small groups mentored by health personnel were they can discuss the presentations and ask questions. In the breaks, literature and other type of information for patients will be on display. All participants will get a folder with details of the program and leaflets from patient organisations and governmental agencies.<br>* Other names: psychoeducation;|
| Active Comparator: Usual care<br>Usual care | Other: Usual care<br>* Usual care<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Behavior and symptoms | Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-32) | 12 months | 
| knowledge on treatment preference |  | 1 month | 
| patient activation (coping) | measured with Patient Activation Measure (PAM) | 4 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Client satisfaction | Satisfaction measured with Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| Perceived participation | Perceived participation measured with Perception of care (PoC) | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| Psychiatric Out-Patient Experiences | Psychiatric Out-Patient Experiences Questionnaire (POPEQ) | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| Quality of Life | WHO-5 | Baseline, 4 and 12 months | 
| motivation for treatment | motivation for treatment (questions) | Baseline, 1 and 4 months | 
| costs | data on health care use, sick leave, medication and other direct and indirect costs will be collected | Baseline, 1, 4 and 12 months | 
| Knowledge | measured using a self developed questionnaire | Baseline, 1, 4 and 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Introduction seminar, Psychoeducation, Waiting list, Patient participation, Mental disorders