Depression
Conditions
Keywords
Training, Competency, Psychological treatment
Brief summary
The proposed study in Nepal will evaluate if non-specialists participating in Equip-based Problem Management Plus training show greater competencies compared to non-specialists participating in standard Problem Management Plus training. The proposed study is a randomized controlled trial with mixed-methods components evaluating both quantitative outcomes and qualitative outcomes among non-specialists participating in the training and their trainers.
Detailed description
There is increasing recognition of the high burden of psychological distress among populations around the world. Increasingly, non-specialists (persons who do not have expertise in formal mental health training) are being used to deliver psychological services. There is a long history of successful implementation of psychological services by non-specialists in Nepal. Recently, a cluster randomized controlled trial of Problem Management Plus showed modest benefit over enhanced care as usual in southeastern Nepal. A recent initiative by the World Health Organization is being rolled out to improve the competencies of non-specialists participating in Problem Management Plus and similar trainings. This initiative is Ensuring Quality in Psychological Services (Equip). The proposed study in Nepal will evaluate if non-specialists participating in Equip-based Problem Management Plus training show greater competencies compared to non-specialists participating in standard Problem Management Plus training. The proposed study is a randomized controlled trial with mixed-methods components evaluating both quantitative outcomes and qualitative outcomes among non-specialists participating in the training and their trainers.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALStandard Problem Management Plus training (training as usual)
10-day training on Problem Management Plus.
BEHAVIORALEquip-based Problem Management Plus training
Training and supervision for Problem Management Plus in which the trainers and supervisors use the EQUIP platform for competency assessment and feedback.
Sponsors
Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Nepal
George Washington University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE (Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
The persons without mental health professional training who are randomized to either training as usual or Equip-based training will not be informed about how the two training arms differ. Outcome assessors will not be told if the trainees are in training as usual or Equip-based training.
Intervention model description
Persons without mental health professional experience will be randomized to either training as usual to develop Problem Management Plus competencies or they will be randomized to Problem Management Plus training that uses Equip principles of competency-based training.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* No prior mental health professional training * Literate in Nepali
Exclusion criteria
* Any prior mental health professional training
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Enhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic Factors (unabbreviated title: Enhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic Factors) | Immediately after Problem Management Plus training (10-days post-baseline) | 15-item tool with 4 response levels, range is 15 to 60, with higher scores equating to more competency |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Enhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic Factors (unabbreviated title: Enhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic Factors) | After Problem Management Plus supervision (approximately 45-days post-baseline) | 15-item tool with 4 response levels, range is 15 to 60, with higher scores equating to more competency |
| Problem Management Plus Competency Assessment (unabbreviated title: Problem Management Plus Competency Assessment) | Immediately after Problem Management Plus training (10-days post-baseline) | 12-item tool with 4 response levels, range is 12 to 48, with higher scores equating to more competency |
| Group Facilitation Competency Assessment (unabbreviated title: Group Facilitation Competency Assessment) | Immediately after Problem Management Plus training (10-days post-baseline) | 8-item tool with 4 response levels, range is 8 to 32, with higher scores equating to more competency |
Countries
Nepal
Outcome results
None listed