Evaluation of a Gatekeeper Training for Pharmacists

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05991635
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: August 14, 2023
• Last Update Posted: February 6, 2024
• Sponsor: University Ghent
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): University Ghent

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This study aims to investigate to what extent a gatekeeper training (e-learning) for pharmacists and PTA is effective in changing the attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy. Moreover, it aims to examine how they evaluate the training and whether they were able to apply the learned skills in practice.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Suicide	Behavioral: Gatekeeper training (e-learning)	Not Applicable

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 201 participants
• Allocation: N/A
• Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Official Title: Evaluation of a Gatekeeper Training for Pharmacists
• Actual Study Start Date: April 12, 2023
• Actual Primary Completion Date: January 11, 2024
• Actual Study Completion Date: January 11, 2024

Arms and Interventions

Arm

Intervention/treatment

Experimental: Intervention group; Participants in this group (all participants) are asked to complete a questionnaire and then receive access to the online gatekeeper training (e-learning) during three days, after which they were asked to complete another questionnaire. After three months, a third questionnaire is sent.

Behavioral: Gatekeeper training (e-learning); The gatekeeper training consists of an interactive e-learning (min. 1h, max. 3h) which includes theoretical knowledge, tips, exercises and relevant examples and cases. The main topics included in the e-learning are: Background information on suicide in Flanders (rates); Definitions and theoretical background (suicidal process, integrative explanatory model of suicide); Debunking existing myths about suicide; The role of the pharmacist in suicide prevention; Signal Recognition; Talking about suicide and suicidal thoughts (start the conversation); How and to whom to refer as pharmacist or FTA; Medication management and medication in the context of suicide; Rights and obligations of a pharmacist/PTA in the context of suicide prevention; Self-care

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Changes in attitudes: Attitudes Towards Suicide Scale (ATTS) [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline (before intervention) to post-test (after a week of access to e-learning) ]
   The ATTS is a 37-item to be scored on a 5-point Likert scale (1= disagree completely to 5 = agree completely) to measure participants' attitudes towards suicide.

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Changes in self-efficacy: Measurement of Perceived Self-efficacy [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline (before intervention) to post-test (after a week of access to e-learning) ]
   The Measurement of Perceived Self-efficacy is a 10-item self-report questionnaire to be scored on a 4-point Likert scale (1= Completely false to 4 = completely true)
2. Changes in perceptions/myths [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline (before intervention) to post-test (after a week of access to e-learning) ]
   Self-developped questionnaire: 4 statements to be rated as true or false; 2 question about how participant would feel if a patient said they have suicidal thouhgts
3. Gatekeeper training evaluation [ Time Frame: Post-test (after a week of access to e-learning) ]

   8 evaluative statements about the e-learning to be rated on a 5-point Likert scale (Totally disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, totally disagree).

   Question to rate the e-learning on a scale of 1 (not good at all) to 10 (excellent) Additionally three open questions where participants can give feedback about what they liked/did not like/ general comments.

Other Outcome Measures:

1. Socio-demographic characteristics [ Time Frame: Baseline ]
   Age, Gender, Years of work experience
2. Previous experience with suicide (prevention) [ Time Frame: Baseline and post-test (after a week of access to e-learning) ]
   At baseline: motivation to participate (9 options), previous trainings (yes/no, specify if yes) At baseline and post-test: experience with suicidal patients (contact and confidence; 5 point Likert scale), knowing what to do or who to refer to (5-point Likert scale), knowing where to find information (5-point Likert scale), which actions previously taken in case of suicidal patient (list of 12), to who do you refer (5 options)
3. Follow-up [ Time Frame: Follow-up (three months after baseline) ]
   Questions concerning: application of acquired skills and knowledge; actions undertaken in context of suicide prevention (12 options); experienced barriers to application of acquired skills and knowledge; need of extra support

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≥ 18 years old
• Have access to internet
• Speak Dutch
• Working as a (public) pharmacist or pharmaceutical technical assistant (FTA)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hospital pharmacists or industrial pharmacists are not included in this study and thus constitute an exclusion criterion.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Belgium

Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention, Ghent University

Ghent, Belgium, 9000

Sponsors and Collaborators

University Ghent

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Gwendolyn Portzky, Phd; University Ghent

More Information

• Responsible Party: University Ghent
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05991635
• Other Study ID Numbers: ONZ-2022-0598
• First Posted: August 14, 2023
• Last Update Posted: February 6, 2024
• Last Verified: February 2024

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Suicide; Self-Injurious Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms