Toward Gender Aware VA Healthcare: Development and Evaluation of an Intervention

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Women's Health
• Interventions: Behavioral: Caring for Women Veterans

• Registration Number: NCT00156663
• Lead Sponsor: US Department of Veterans Affairs

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an educational program intended to raise staff awareness about women veterans and their health care needs and preferences.

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES:

The primary objective of this project was to develop and evaluate a computerized program that would enhance Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employees� awareness of women veterans and their health-care needs. The program was designed to challenge negative stereotypes about female patients (gender-role ideology), increase empathy toward female patients� needs (gender sensitivity), and enhance knowledge regarding women veterans and aspects of their VHA care (knowledge).

DESIGN/METHODS:

Phases I involved generating content for the computerized interactive program. Phase II involved creating the 30-minute program. The Phase III evaluation of the program involved a two-group pretest�posttest�follow-up equivalent control group design at two facilities with a third facility comparison group. At the first two facilities, employees who provide either direct or ancillary care to patients were randomly assigned to either the treatment or the control group. Participants in the treatment group completed the program entitled Caring for Women Veterans. Participants in the control group and those at the third site completed a 30-minute program entitled Managing Stress. The data from the third site were included to test for infusion of the treatment effect within same-site groups. Gender awareness was evaluated at three time points using the Gender Awareness Inventory-VA (GAI-VA). Participants completed the GAI-VA several weeks prior to completing the computerized program (Time 1, n =339), immediately after completing the program (Time 2, n = 249), and approximately one month after the program (Time 3, n = 167). Participants also completed a qualitative evaluation of the program at Time 2.

STATUS:

Complete.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2004-05
• Study First Submitted: 2005-08-25
• Study Completion: 2005-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2005-09-07
• Study First Posted: 2005-09-12
• Status Verified: 2007-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-04-06
• Last Update Posted: 2015-04-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 250

Inclusion Criteria

Participants must be VHA employees who have direct or indirect contact with patients.

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Exclusion Criteria

Employees who have no contact with patients.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Arm 1	Caring for Women Veterans	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Gender Awareness is measured during the pre-test, immediately after the educational program, and approximately four weeks after the subject participates in the educational program.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Participants rate their enjoyment of the educational program and offer recommendations for the program as needed.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA; 🇺🇸 Bedford, Massachusetts, United States