Reducing Serious Mental Illness and Suicide Stigma Among Medical Students
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Stigmatization
- Sponsor
- Ponce Medical School Foundation, Inc.
- Enrollment
- 126
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Increase from baseline in scores on the Behavioral Health Skills Inventory (BHSI)
- Last Updated
- 3 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The team aims to develop and test the efficacy of a serious mental illness (SMI) and suicide ideation and attempt (SIA) stigma reduction intervention for medical students. The team expects that after intervention exposure, relative to control group, participants in the experimental condition will manifest more favorable change in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
Detailed Description
People with serious mental illness (PSMI; i.e. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) die, on average, 25 years earlier than the general population. Suicide is a key factor for this disparity as it is the leading cause of unnatural deaths among this population. Research identifies Latinos as a particularly vulnerable group, accounting for one of the highest rates (over 30%) of serious mental illness (SMI) among ethnic minorities in the United States (US). Latinos also hold one of the highest prevalence of suicide ideation and attempts (SIA) with rates of 10.1% and 4.4% respectively. This scenario worsens for one Latino subgroup, Puerto Ricans, who have the highest prevalence of SMI (36%) and SIA among Latinos in the US (7.9% and 3.5% respectively). Taken together, these facts present a concerning scenario for Latinos, especially Puerto Ricans with SMI/SIA. Health professionals play a key role in identifying SMI/SIA among patients; unfortunately, SMI/SIA stigma hinders this process. The proposed study aims to: 1) develop the content of an intervention to reduce SMI/SIA stigma among medical students, 2) determine the acceptability and feasibility of implementing the intervention among medical students by examining recruitment/screening procedures, participation/refusal/retention rates, and participant satisfaction, and; 3) pilot test the preliminary efficacy of the intervention in reducing SMI/SIA stigma among medical students by increasing knowledge of SMI and SIA, reducing negative attitudes towards SMI/SIA and increasing behavioral skills for providing healthcare to PSMI.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Medical student currently in third year of medical school training
Exclusion Criteria
- •Do not speak English
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Increase from baseline in scores on the Behavioral Health Skills Inventory (BHSI)
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after intervention, 2 week follow-up
This 29-item inventory assesses standardized patient simulation interactions including three behavioral components addressing general healthcare related behaviors, SMI related behaviors and SIA related behaviors. Scores range from 0 to 58, with higher numbers reflecting higher skills in healthcare service delivery for PSMI/SIA.
Secondary Outcomes
- Increase from baseline in scores on the Literacy of Suicide Scale (LOSS)(Baseline, immediately after intervention, 2 week follow-up)
- Decrease from baseline in scores on The Emotional Reactions Scale(Baseline, immediately after intervention, 2 week follow-up)
- Increase from baseline in scores on the Serious Mental Illness Literacy Scale(Baseline, immediately after intervention, 2 week follow-up)
- Decrease from Stigma of Suicide Scale (Short Version)(Baseline, immediately after intervention, 2 week follow-up)
- Increase from baseline in scores on the Cross-Cultural Care Scale (CCCS)(Baseline, immediately after intervention, 2 week follow-up)
- Decrease from baseline in scores on The Mental Health Stigma Scale for Health Professionals(Baseline, immediately after intervention, 2 week follow-up)