Benefits of Implementing an Academic Training of Trainers Program to Promote Knowledge and Clarity in Work with Psychiatric Suicidal Patients

Abstract

A 200-hour academic, postgraduate training-of-trainers program in suicide prevention at Karolinska Institute for key mental healthcare staff, designed to enable them to enhance their co-workers' knowledge and job clarity, was evaluated in a panel study by means of questionnaires. Psychiatric staff working regularly with suicidal patients in clinics where key persons attended the course (n = 134, intervention group) were compared with staff working in clinics without participants (n = 166, control group). Perceptions of being sufficiently trained (p < .01) improved significantly among staff working in intervention clinics. Compared with the control group, the intervention group had a better understanding of essentials (p < .05); found instructions clearer (p < .01) and experienced fewer problems with superiors' differing views (p < .05) at follow up. Assistant nurses working in intervention clinics seem to have benefited most.

The Most Effective Way of Delivering a Train-the-Trainers Program: A Systematic Review

“…Thirteen of the 18 studies showed that TTT programs significantly helped to improve clinical behavior, 8,[15][16][19][20]26 increase knowledge, 22,25,[28][29] or resulted in better patient outcomes. Thirteen of the 18 studies showed that TTT programs significantly helped to improve clinical behavior, 8,[15][16][19][20]26 increase knowledge, 22,25,[28][29] or resulted in better patient outcomes.…”

“…17,22,[24][25][28][29] All 6 included a preand postintervention measure, and 4 found that a TTT model was effective in improving the knowledge of participants. Six studies assessed effectiveness through knowledge tests.…”

“…Two of the 18 papers were judged as having a high risk of bias 22,25 because the allocation to control and intervention groups was not randomized. Two of the 18 papers were judged as having a high risk of bias 22,25 because the allocation to control and intervention groups was not randomized.…”

Dissemination of Psychotherapy for Trauma Spectrum Disorders in Postconflict Settings: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Rwanda

“…In a community program teaching clinicians motivational interviewing, Martino et al [36] found that the TTT model was a feasible and effective strategy for disseminating empirically supported treatments using workshops and supervision. The thus far limited reports on mental health studies have based their outcomes on the primary or secondary recipient's (health care professionals in the first and second generation of dissemination) level of knowledge and clinical behavior [35,36,37]. Our study differed in terms of the methodological approach as we measured the clinical outcome reported by the patient.…”

“…Our work is consistent with successful implementation of the TTT program in other fields of health care. In work with psychiatric suicidal patients, an academic TTT program successfully promoted knowledge, clarity, and handling of patients [35]. In a community program teaching clinicians motivational interviewing, Martino et al [36] found that the TTT model was a feasible and effective strategy for disseminating empirically supported treatments using workshops and supervision.…”