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Integrating a Mental Health Intervention Into Primary Health Care for Refugees

Integrating an Evidence-based Mental Health Intervention Into Primary Health Care to Improve Outcomes for Refugees With Hypertension, Diabetes, and Epilepsy

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05512624
Enrollment
308
Registered
2022-08-23
Start date
2022-09-01
Completion date
2023-09-01
Last updated
2022-12-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Medication Adherence, Mental Health Issue, Self Efficacy, Hypertension, Epilepsy, Diabetes

Brief summary

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of an evidence-based mental health intervention (Common Elements Treatment Approach) on medication adherence, behavioral improvement and clinical outcomesamong adults taking medication for hypertension, diabetes and epilepsy using a two-arm randomized wait-list controlled trial among adult refugees in Mae La camp, Thailand.

Interventions

For treatment group participants, they will then have weekly meetings with a counselor lasting no more than 1.5 hours per session, and a total of approximately 10 sessions. Both treatment and wait list participants will then complete the assessment instrument at 3 months and 6 months post-enrollment (each lasting no more than 1.5 hours). All total, it is expected that treatment group participants will have up to 13 meetings with a study team member or counselor over the course of their participation. Wait list group participants will have 3 meetings with a study team member over the course of their participation. If the treatment is deemed to be effective these wait list participants will be the first adults to be offered the intervention after trial completion.

Sponsors

Khon Kaen University
CollaboratorOTHER
Johns Hopkins University
CollaboratorOTHER
International Rescue Committee
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Two-armed randomized waitlisted control trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* A. Inclusion criteria: 1. Patients who was diagnosed by physician based on ICD 10 to have diabetes, hypertension or diabetes with hypertension comorbidity, or epilepsy. 2. Registered in chronic database system of the camp. B.

Exclusion criteria

1. who are younger than 18 years old 2. who have severe physical illness 3. who have severe mental disorders 4. who will not stay in the camp until the end of the program 5. who are not willing to participate in the program

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Medication Adherence Report ScaleBaseline, Endline, Past two weeksMedication Adherence - Self Report will be assessed using the 5-item Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5). Each item assesses the frequency of deviations in medication use, ranging from never (0) to all days (4) over the past two weeks. The MARS-5 will be scored by calculating the mean of all items to generate a continuous score ranging from 0-4, with higher scores indicating greater problems with medication adherence.
Pill Count Medication AdherenceBaseline, Endline, Past two weeksMedication Adherence - Pill Count: Measurement: Medication Adherence will also be objectively measured by counting the proportion of pills taken over the past two weeks relative to the number taken if used as prescribed over the same period. Proportions will range from 0-100% with higher proportion indicating greater adherence. Proportions will be used to classify a binary indicator of adherence using an 80% or higher cutoff.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
DietBaseline, Endline, Past two weeksThree locally developed items assessing frequency of unhealthy food consumption (sugary, fatty, and salty foods), ranging from never (0) to all days (4) over the past two weeks. A composite score will be calculated by taking the mean of all 3 items, for a total score ranging from 0-4 with higher scores indicating greater consumption of unhealthy foods.
Sleep QualityBaseline, Endline, Past two weeksSleep quality will be assessed using the 6-item sleep scale from the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS-6). Items assess frequency of experiencing a range of positive (2 items) and problematic (4 items) sleep experiences, ranging from none of the time (0) to all of the time (4) over the past two weeks. The MOS-6 will be scored by first reverse-scoring the two positively worded items, then calculating the mean of all items to generate a continuous score ranging from 0-4, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep patterns.
Mental Health SymptomsBaseline, Endline, Past two weeksThe Myanmar-Wide Short Version of the International Depression Symptom Scale (IDSS) is comprised of 15 scored items (additional items are assessed for clinical relevance but not included in scoring) assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Each item assesses frequency of experiencing the symptom over the past two weeks, ranging from none of the time (0) to all of the time (3). The IDSS is scored by taking the mean of all items to generate a continuous distress score ranging from 0-3, with higher scores indicating greater distress.
Disease management self-efficacyBaseline, Endline, Past two weeksDisease management self-efficacy will be assessed using a 9-item scale measuring self-reported confidence in taking various actions to manage one's illness, ranging from not confident at all (0) to fully confident (3). Scores will be calculated by taking the mean of all items to generate a continuous score ranging from 0-3, with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy in managing chronic disease.
Substance useBaseline, Endline, Past two weekstwo locally developed items each assessing self-reported use of alcohol, tobacco, and betel nut. The first question for each substance assesses frequency of use, ranging from never (0) to all days (4) over the past two weeks. The second item is open-ended to record self-reported daily average intake (drinks/smokes/betels per day). Separate consumption scores will be generated for each of alcohol, tobacco, and betel by multiplying the frequency range (0-4) by the average intake to generate a continuous numeric quantifier of recent consumption, with higher scores reflecting greater consumption.
HbA1C changeBaseline, endline, presentProportion of those who could control gluclose in red blood cell (A1C \< 6.5) between intervention and control groups. Higher proportion is better. For diabetic subsample
Fasting plasma glucoseBaseline, endline, present.Proportion difference of those who could control fasting plasma glucose (FPG\<120) of those who could control glucose in red blood cell (AIC\<6.5) between intervnetion and comparison gropu. Higher proportion is better. For diabetic subsample
Incidence of seizureBaseline, Endline, present.For epileptic patients, incidence rate ratio of seizures between intervention and comparison groups.
Non hypertensive blood pressureBaseline, Endline, presentProportion of individuals who do not have hypertension among the subsample who were hypertensive. Higher proportion is better. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures will be used.
Physical activityBaseline, Endline, Past two weeksThree locally developed items assessing frequency of physical activities (vigorous, moderate, and leisure) for at least 30 minutes, ranging from never (0) to all days (4) over the past two weeks. A composite score will be calculated by taking the mean of all 3 items , for a total score ranging from 0-4 with higher scores indicating greater frequency of physical activity.

Countries

Thailand

Contacts

Primary ContactYe Htut Oo
yehtut.oo@rescue.org(202) 822-0043
Backup ContactKathryn Falb
kathryn.falb@rescue.org(202) 822-0043

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026