Clinical trial NCT06655792: Destigmatization Among Primary Health Care Providers
Official title: Effectiveness of an Educational Program for Destigmatization Among Primary Health Care Providers
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Stigma of Mental Illness
Keywords: Educational Program
Knowledge
Attitudes
Destigmatization
Lead sponsor: Hawler Medical University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2024-10-23
Enrollment: 82
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Brief summary: 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.

Detailed description: 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.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Stigma Levels
timeFrame: Baseline pre the educational program, and at 3 months follow-up.
measure: Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire based on educational program.
timeFrame: Before the educational program and at 3 months post-program completion.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in Knowledge About Mental Illness
timeFrame: Baseline pre the educational program, and at 3 month follow-up.
measure: Change in Beliefs Toward Mental Illness
timeFrame: Baseline pre the educational program, and at 3 months follow-up.
measure: Change in Reported and Intended Behavior Toward People with Mental Illness
timeFrame: Baseline pre the educational program, and at 3 follow-up.
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Kirkuk
country: Iraq
facility: Kirkuk Department of Health - Primary Health Care Sectors
Study officials:
References:
citation: Younis MS, Anwer AH, Hussain HY. Stigmatising attitude and reflections towards mental illness at community setting, population-based approach, Baghdad City 2020. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2021 Aug;67(5):461-466. doi: 10.1177/0020764020961797. Epub 2020 Oct 8.
citation: Tyerman J, Patovirta AL, Celestini A. How Stigma and Discrimination Influences Nursing Care of Persons Diagnosed with Mental Illness: A Systematic Review. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2021 Feb;42(2):153-163. doi: 10.1080/01612840.2020.1789788. Epub 2020 Aug 7.
citation: Pescosolido BA, Halpern-Manners A, Luo L, Perry B. Trends in Public Stigma of Mental Illness in the US, 1996-2018. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Dec 1;4(12):e2140202. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.40202.
citation: Mohammadzadeh M, Awang H, Mirzaei F. Mental health stigma among Middle Eastern adolescents: A protocol for a systematic review. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2020 Dec;27(6):829-837. doi: 10.1111/jpm.12627. Epub 2020 Apr 13.
citation: Eiroa-Orosa FJ, Lomascolo M, Tosas-Fernandez A. Efficacy of an Intervention to Reduce Stigma Beliefs and Attitudes among Primary Care and Mental Health Professionals: Two Cluster Randomised-Controlled Trials. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 29;18(3):1214. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18031214.