An exploratory randomised trial of the effectiveness of a training intervention delivered to staff of a district nursing service in improving the knowledge and detection of common mental disorders in a mixed adult and older adult caseload

ISRCTN	ISRCTN91170552
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN91170552
Protocol serial number	G84/6075
Sponsor	Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK)
Funder	Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK)

Submission date: 03/02/2003
Registration date: 03/02/2003
Last edited: 24/05/2016

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

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Mr Mark Haddad
Scientific

Health Services Research Department
Institute of Psychiatry PO30
De Crespigny Park
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 8AF
United Kingdom

Phone	+44 (0)20 7848 0139
Email	m.haddad@iop.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	An exploratory randomised trial of the effectiveness of a training intervention delivered to staff of a district nursing service in improving the knowledge and detection of common mental disorders in a mixed adult and older adult caseload
Study objectives	To ascertain whether a training programme delivered to district nurses and associated health workers can produce significant and sustained improvements in their abilities to detect cases of clinically significant psychological disorder in their patients.
Ethics approval(s)	Not provided at time of registration
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Intervention	A training package comprising seven sessions will be developed based upon evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and existing teaching resources. This will be delivered utilising varied learning approaches, predominantly interactive educational workshops such as those involving small group discussion or case studies, to a randomly allocated group of staff. In a second phase one year later, the training intervention will be delivered to the prior control group.
Intervention type	Other
Primary outcome measure(s)	Changes in measures of case recognition utilising standard properties of diagnostic instruments will be compared between intervention and control groups pre- and post-intervention, and at 12 months. Included patients will complete Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (Zigmond & Snaith, 1983) those over 65 will additionally complete the Short Geriatric Depression Scale (15) (Sheik & Yesavage, 1986). Staff will concurrently complete a five-point measure of presence and severity of mental disorder for their patients. Staff knowledge and attitudes will be measured at baseline and at three and 12 month intervals using an adapted version of the Depression Attitude Questionnaire (Botega, Blizard, Wilkinson, Mann, 1992), and multiple choice questions based upon World Health Organisation (WHO) primary care mental health literature.
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Not provided at time of registration
Completion date	29/09/2005

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Adult
Lower age limit	18 Years
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	900
Key inclusion criteria	1. All consenting state qualified nursing staff will be included, home care staff (levels I & II) will be randomly selected 2. Patients on their caseloads aged over 18, who provide consent, will be included
Key exclusion criteria	For patients, diagnoses of: severe mental illness; current substance misuse disorder; moderate or severe organic brain disorder.
Date of first enrolment	30/09/2002
Date of final enrolment	29/09/2005

Locations

Countries of recruitment

United Kingdom
England

Study participating centre

Health Services Research Department

London
SE5 8AF
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes

Editorial Notes

24/05/2016: No publications found, verifying study status with principal investigator