Study protocol
Improving the application of a practice guideline for the assessment and treatment of suicidal behavior by training the full staff of psychiatric departments via an e-learning supported Train-the-Trainer program: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
1 Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2 EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3 GGZ Center for Mental Health Care Friesland, Friesland, The Netherlands
4 Groningen University, Groningen, The Netherlands
5 Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands
6 GGZ Center for Mental Health Care GGZ in Geest, 113online, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
7 GGZ Center for Mental Health Care Delfland, Delft, The Netherlands
8 Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
9 GGZ Center for Mental Health Care Altrecht, Altrecht, The Netherlands
10 GGZ Center for Mental Health Care, Propersona, The Netherlands
11 GGZ Center for Mental Health Care, Dimence, The Netherlands
12 GGZ Center for Mental Health Care, Rivierduinen, The Netherlands
Trials 2013, 14:9 doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-9
Published: 9 January 2013Abstract
Background
In 2012, in The Netherlands a multidisciplinary practice guideline for the assessment and treatment of suicidal behavior was issued. The release of guidelines often fails to change professional behavior due to multiple barriers. Structured implementation may improve adherence to guidelines. This article describes the design of a study measuring the effect of an e-learning supported Train-the-Trainer program aiming at the training of the full staff of departments in the application of the guideline. We hypothesize that both professionals and departments will benefit from the program.
Method
In a multicenter cluster randomized controlled trial, 43 psychiatric departments spread over 10 regional mental health institutions throughout The Netherlands will be clustered in pairs with respect to the most prevalent diagnostic category of patients and average duration of treatment. Pair members are randomly allocated to either the experimental or the control condition. In the experimental condition, the full staff of departments, that is, all registered nurses, psychologists, physicians and psychiatrists (n = 532, 21 departments) will be trained in the application of the guideline, in a one-day small interactive group Train-the-Trainer program. The program is supported by a 60-minute e-learning module with video vignettes of suicidal patients and additional instruction. In the control condition (22 departments, 404 professionals), the guideline shall be disseminated in the traditional way: through manuals, books, conferences, internet, reviews and so on. The effectiveness of the program will be assessed at the level of both health care professionals and departments.
Discussion
We aim to demonstrate the effect of training of the full staff of departments with an e-learning supported Train-the-Trainer program in the application of a new clinical guideline. Strengths of the study are the natural setting, the training of full staff, the random allocation to the conditions, the large scale of the study and the willingness of both staff and management to participate in the study.
Trial registration
Dutch trial register: NTR3092
