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Suicide Prevention Training for PC Providers-in-training

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University of Rochester

Status

Completed

Conditions

Suicide Prevention

Treatments

Other: Didactic training
Other: Standardized patient interaction

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT02996344
00061161

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized control study responds to the need for effective suicide prevention education/training that is grounded in adult learning theory and advances in education, in the context of a changing health care landscape where primary care providers are likely to encounter suicidal individuals. The study will test the effectiveness of suicide prevention education for providers-in-training by comparing two conditions: 1) A Control learning group: includes suicide prevention didactics (Commitment to Living: Primary Care) delivered online via brief videos, and 2) An Experimental learning group: includes didactics plus two standardized patient (SP) interactions. One Experimental learning group SP interaction will be in person and the other will be conducted remotely using a secure webcam service (OoVoo). All SP interactions will be recorded. Both groups will be compared in terms of their suicide prevention skills using an SP 'test case' at 6-month follow up. The primary research question is to learn about the impact of practice (though SP simulation) over and above didactics alone.

Full description

Suicide is a national public health crisis and a critical patient safety issue. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death overall and, shockingly, the 2nd leading cause of death in adolescents and young adults (15-34 years old). 1 A recent U.S. study of suicide reported that 45% of individuals who died by suicide had contact with primary care services within one month before their death. 2 Another study found that 80% of youth who died by suicide saw their primary care provider within the year of their death. 3 Patient safety is compromised when primary care providers lack the knowledge and skills to assess and respond to patients at risk for suicide.

This randomized control study responds to the need for effective suicide prevention education/training that is grounded in adult learning theory and advances in education, in the context of a changing health care landscape where primary care providers are likely to encounter suicidal individuals. 4 We will test the effectiveness of suicide prevention education for providers-in-training by comparing two conditions: 1) A Control learning group: includes suicide prevention didactics (Commitment to Living: Primary Care) delivered online via brief videos, and 2) An Experimental learning group: includes didactics plus two standardized patient (SP) interactions. One Experimental learning group SP interaction will be in person and the other will be conducted remotely using a secure webcam service (OoVoo). All SP interactions will be recorded. Both groups will be compared in terms of their suicide prevention skills using an SP 'test case' at 6-month follow up. The primary research question is to learn about the impact of practice (though SP simulation) over and above didactics alone. The hypotheses are as follows:

H1: All subjects will demonstrate improved suicide prevention knowledge from pre to post didactics and maintain improvement 6 months after didactics.

H2: Subjects in the experimental learning group will report greater satisfaction with the training, greater self-efficacy in identifying and responding to patients at risk for suicide, greater intention to use, as well as use of suicide prevention skills.

H3: Subjects in the experimental learning group will also be more skillful in responding to patients at risk for suicide (in an SP interview, measured by objective observed ratings) compared to the control learning group 6 months after didactics.

Exploratory Aims: We will examine moderators of outcomes, differences among SP simulations (i.e., face-to-face vs. telehealth modalities), and if there is growth in improved skills observed over multiple SP experiences in the experimental learning group.

Enrollment

132 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • trainee in family medicine residency, pediatrics residency, or nurse practitioner program at URMC.
  • speaks/writes English.

Exclusion criteria

  • on academic probation

Trial design

Primary purpose

Prevention

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

Single Blind

132 participants in 2 patient groups

Didactic training
Active Comparator group
Description:
Behavioral; participants will view the approximately one hour Commitment to Living: Primary Care (CTL:PC) didactic training videos.
Treatment:
Other: Didactic training
Didactics and standardized patients
Experimental group
Description:
Behavioral; participants will view the approximately one hour Commitment to Living: Primary Care (CTL:PC) didactic training videos plus two practice standardized patient interactions.
Treatment:
Other: Standardized patient interaction
Other: Didactic training

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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