Effectiveness of a case identification tool to increase helpseeking of people with probable mental health problems
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN28071919 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN28071919 |
| Protocol serial number | 1620 |
| Sponsor | TPO Nepal |
| Funder | Department for International Development, UK Government |
- Submission date
- 18/05/2018
- Registration date
- 23/05/2018
- Last edited
- 04/03/2022
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Adopting the task-shifting approach where expert knowledge and skills are transferred to lay health workers, the Programme for Improving Mental Health Care (PRIME) trained health workers working at the community health facilities in Chitwan district of Nepal based on the WHO’s mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) Intervention Guidelines. Studies have shown that the provision of services is not enough to minimize the treatment gap in mental health, hence there is a need for increasing demand of mental health services as well. Thus, to bridge this gap, at the community level community sensitization activities were conducted. Similarly, to help with detection and referral of mental health problems, a tool called Community Informant Detection Tool (CIDT) was developed. The CIDT is an instrument that can be used by anyone even with limited education. It consists of a case vignette of particular mental health problem where common symptoms are presented in local idioms accompanied with pictures. In Nepal, the tool is being used by the Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs). The CIDT has already been validated and has shown promising results. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the CIDT is effective at improving help seeking and increasing uptake of mental health services in the health facilities.
Who can participate?
Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHV) working at one of the participating health facilities
What does the study involve?
The health facilities in the PRIME implementation area are randomly allocated to two groups to either use the CIDT or to not use the CIDT. Before the implementation 6 months of data about the total number of identified mental health cases is collected from both groups. The FCHVs associated with all selected health facilities receive a two-day training on home-based care and a general introduction on mental health problems (similar for both groups). Additionally, the FCHVs in the CIDT group are trained about using the CIDT, specifically its concept, process and use in the identification and referral of people with probable mental health problems. After the training, the FCHVs go out in their community and start identifying and referring probable cases of mental health problems to the health facilities. All the referrals made by the FCHVs are recorded in the Health Management Information System (HMIS). At the end of 6 months, HMIS data are collected on the total number of mental health cases identified and treated.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The possible benefit of participating in the study is increased access to mental health services for people with probable mental health problems. In both groups these benefits are likely to occur, with an increased likelihood of this benefit in the CIDT group. Increased access to services may subsequently lead to improvements in mental health after receiving treatment. Treatment in both groups may temporarily lead to increased levels of anxiety as part of the treatment process.
Where is the study run from?
Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (Nepal)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2016 to March 2017
Who is funding the study?
Department for International Development (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Mark Jordans
mark.jordans@kcl.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
TPO Nepal, Baluwatar
Kathmandu
PB602
Nepal
| Phone | 0031619049149 |
|---|---|
| mark.jordans@kcl.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Assessing the effectiveness of the Community Informant Detection Tool (CIDT) in increasing help seeking behavior as measured by Health Management Information System (HMIS) |
| Study objectives | CIDT implementing health facilities’ catchment areas (intervention group) have higher number of mental health case referral than health facilities’ catchment areas that do not implement CIDT. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Nepal Health Research Council, 07/04/2016, protocol no. 1620 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Depression, psychosis, alcohol use disorder and epilepsy |
| Intervention | Female community health volunteers (FCHVs) from 40 health facilities were randomly assigned (1:1) to: 1. A two-day training on community outreach for mental health services (home based care and community sensitization) was provided to FCHVs covering the catchment area of 40 health facilities. This training dealt with basic concepts of psychosocial, mental health and orientation of 4 mental health problems. 2. The same training on community outreach combined with an additional two days training on detection and referral of four mental health problems using Community Information Detection Tool (CIDT), its concept, and process of use was provided to FCHVs from the intervention group. A monthly supervision was conducted to ensure the quality of work as well as to discuss challenges and possible ways to overcome it. In both study arms community sensitization was done to make people aware about the availability of mental health services in the health facilities. We assessed the number of mental health cases in each of the study arms as the outcome. FCHVs were blind to condition. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Number of CIDT referral of probable mental health cases recorded in the HMIS over a period of 6 months (i.e. 6 months prior to FCHV training and 6 months following the FCHV training) at the health facilities |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
No secondary outcome measures |
| Completion date | 30/03/2017 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Health professional |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Female |
| Target sample size at registration | 360 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHV) working in one of the selected health facilities |
| Key exclusion criteria | FCHVs from health facilities that are not selected in the study |
| Date of first enrolment | 13/07/2016 |
| Date of final enrolment | 16/11/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Nepal
Study participating centre
Kathmandu
PB602
Nepal
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not expected to be made available |
| IPD sharing plan | No participant level data will be made available. The dataset will not be made available as it concerns routine health information data from the health facilities where the study was implemented. This data is under the governance of the Nepal Ministry of Health and therefore cannot be made available. The anonymized data will be held by TPO Nepal and will be made available by the corresponding author upon request. Within 1 year after the publication, the dataset will be placed on a secure server that is presently being established. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 23/04/2020 | 04/03/2022 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
04/03/2022: Publication reference added.
09/05/2019: The intention to publish date was changed from 01/11/2018 to 01/09/2019.
