Using lay health workers to identify and manage common mental disorders using problem solving therapy through a friendship bench in a resource poor setting in Zimbabwe
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN25476759 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN25476759 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | N/A |
- Submission date
- 09/07/2010
- Registration date
- 10/01/2011
- Last edited
- 18/12/2020
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Plain English summary of protocol
Not provided at time of registration
Contact information
Dr Dixon Chibanda
Scientific
Scientific
37 Baines Ave
Harare
CY 105
Zimbabwe
Study information
| Study design | Observational cross-sectional pilot cohort study |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Observational |
| Secondary study design | Cross-section survey |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Quality of life |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | Locally adapted problem-solving therapy for depression and common mental disorders in primary care in Zimbabwe delivered through lay workers and a Friendship Bench: a pilot study |
| Study acronym | The Friendship Bench Project |
| Study objectives | There is very limited evidence that sustainable interventions for depression and other common mental disorders (CMD) can be integrated into routine primary health care in Africa. In primary care clinics serving a high density suburb in Harare, a low-cost multi-component 'Friendship Bench Intervention' for CMD, based on problem-solving therapy, was developed to be delivered by trained and supervised female lay workers who were already respected in the community for their outreach role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), tuberculosis (TB) and health promotion. Our aim was to explore the potential of integrating this low-intensity mental health intervention into the work load of lay workers. Outcomes included the number of people referred to the service and the number seen by the lay workers, qualitative data from layworkers on the acceptability and feasibility to them of providing this as part of their work load and participant scores pre-post problem solving therapy on the Shona Symptom Questionnaire for common mental health symptoms. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (MRCZ) REC approved on the 10th August 2006 (ref: MRCZ/A/1307) |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Depression and common mental disorders |
| Intervention | All individuals attending a local clinic who were identified by the local nursing staff as needing psychological care were referred to the 'Friendship Bench', a problem solving therapy based intervention run by lay health works supervised by a clinical psychologist and psychiatrist. initially all those referred were screened using a locally validated indigenous screening tool, the SSQ. All scoring above the cut-off score of 8+ received six sessions of problem solving therapy delivered over a six week period. All those identified as having severe depression were referred to the psychiatric hospital. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ) score after six sessions of problem solving therapy delivered through the friendship bench. |
| Secondary outcome measures | No secondary outcome measures |
| Overall study start date | 01/01/2007 |
| Completion date | 30/12/2009 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 16 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 973 |
| Total final enrolment | 355 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Residents of Mbare 2. Aged 16 years and over, either sex 3. Gave written informed consent. Those who were unable to give informed consent but needed mental health services were referred to the clinical psychologist or psychiatrist and their data was not included in the analysis. |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Client requires acute medical attention such that they cannot participate in screening 2. Severe depression with risk features as diagnosed by primary care nurse |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/01/2007 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/12/2009 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Zimbabwe
Study participating centre
37 Baines Ave
Harare
CY 105
Zimbabwe
CY 105
Zimbabwe
Sponsor information
Counseling Services Unit (Zimbabwe)
Research organisation
Research organisation
1 Raleigh Street
Kopje
Harare
-
Zimbabwe
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Counseling Services Unit (Zimbabwe)
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 26/10/2011 | 18/12/2020 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
18/12/2020: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment was added.
