The Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Partnership for Mental Health Capacity Building (SHARP)

January 30, 2023 updated by: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

The Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Partnership (SHARP) for Mental Health Capacity Building

This is a 10-site cluster-randomized implementation science trial that compares two clinic-level implementation strategies to facilitate ongoing Ministry of Health efforts to scale up depression treatment within non-communicable diseases clinics in Malawi. Primary outcomes are clinical care indicators measured at the level of the visit (patient screened yes/no; depression treatment initiated if indicated yes/no; depression treatment algorithm followed at follow-up yes/no). Secondary outcomes are patient health outcomes measured at the level of the participant.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This 10-site cluster-randomized implementation science trial compares the success of two clinic-level strategies in achieving high-quality integration of depression treatment into 10 non-communicable diseases (NCD) clinics in Malawi. Clinics are randomized 1:1 to one of two clinic-level implementation strategies: a basic strategy involving an internal coordinator, and an enhanced strategy combining the internal coordinator with an external quality assurance monitoring and supervision team. During a pre-randomization run-in period (months 1-5), all clinics receive the basic strategy. During a post-randomization intervention period (months 6-38), half of the clinics continue to receive the basic strategy and half receive the enhanced strategy. Visit-level data (for primary outcomes) and participant enrollment and follow-up (for secondary outcomes) are collected from all 10 clinics during the run-in and intervention periods.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
946

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Malawi
      • Karonga, Malawi
        • Karonga District Hospital
      • Karonga, Malawi
        • MEIRU
      • Kasungu, Malawi
        • Kasungu District Hospital
      • Lilongwe, Malawi
        • Bwaila Hospital
      • Lilongwe, Malawi
        • UNC Project Malawi
      • Machinga, Malawi
        • Machinga District Hospital
      • Mchinji, Malawi
        • Mchinji District Hospital
      • Mulanje, Malawi
        • Mulanje District Hospital
      • Phalombe, Malawi
        • Phalombe Rural Health Center
      • Salima, Malawi
        • Salima District Hospital
      • Zomba, Malawi
        • Zomba Central Hospital
    • Karonga
      • Chilumba, Karonga, Malawi
        • Chilumba Rural Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients who meet the following eligibility criteria will be invited to participate:

  • Ages 18-65 years (antidepressant treatment considerations differ for those <18 or >65 years, and these age groups are expected to be very rare in the target clinics),
  • Current or new patient receiving care for either hypertension or diabetes from a participating NCD clinic
  • Elevated depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score ≥5)

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients will be excluded if they have

  • a history of bipolar or psychotic disorder, or show emergent threat of self-harm.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Basic implementation package
Ten Malawi non-communicable diseases clinics will be randomized 1:1 to one of two implementation strategies to be used for two years followed by a 12-month follow-up period.
Other: Basic implementation package
The basic implementation package will involve identifying an internal coordinator who is one of the full-time on-site providers at the clinic. The internal coordinator provides mentoring to peers and support to leadership in implementing the treatment program and aligning it with clinic priorities.
Experimental: Enhanced implementation package
Ten Malawi non-communicable diseases clinics will be randomized 1:1 to one of two implementation strategies to be used for two years followed by a 12-month follow-up period.
Other: Enhanced implementation package
The enhanced implementation package will combine the internal coordinator with an external quality assurance committee. This committee will complete quarterly audits at the facility to evaluate compliance with the depression treatment protocol as well as providing high-level support in implementing the treatment program through clinical expertise and limited on-site presence.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Fidelity in Depression Screening: Number of Screening-eligible Visits at Which Depression Screening is Completed
Time Frame: Measured based on data from clinic visits on each clinic day throughout study period
This primary outcome is measured at the level of the clinician-patient visit out of all clinic visits during the intervention period, including visits with both consented and non-consented patients. The outcome is based on aggregate clinic process data including number of visits for which the patient is not already engaged in depression treatment (denominator) and number of visits for which the patient is screened for depression (numerator) on each clinic day at each facility. Completion of depression screening (successful outcome) is defined as the clinician completing the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), and, if the PHQ-2 score is >0, also completing the PHQ-9 with the patient.
Measured based on data from clinic visits on each clinic day throughout study period
Fidelity in Depression Treatment Initiation: Number of Treatment-eligible Visits for Which Depression Treatment Actually Starts Within 30 Days of Identification
Time Frame: Measured based on data from clinic visits on each clinic day throughout study period
This primary outcome is measured at the level of the clinician-patient visit out of all treatment-eligible visits during the intervention period, including visits with both consented and non-consented patients. The outcome is based on aggregate clinic process data including number of visits for which the patient is eligible for depression treatment (denominator) and number of visits for which the patient initiates depression treatment (numerator) on each clinic day at each facility. Eligible for depression treatment is defined as PHQ-9 total score of 5 or above. Initiating depression treatment is defined as prescription of antidepressant medication or referral to Friendship Bench psychosocial counselors within 30 days of positive screen.
Measured based on data from clinic visits on each clinic day throughout study period
Fidelity in Following the Depression Treatment Algorithm: Number of Treatment Follow-up Appointments in the First Three Months of Depression Treatment for Which the Clinical Treatment Decision Follows the Depression Treatment Guidelines
Time Frame: Within the first three months of follow-up after initiating depression treatment
This primary outcome is measured at the level of the clinician-patient visit out of all eligible visits during the intervention period. Eligible visits are clinical visits by consented participants within the first 90 days after initiating depression treatment. The outcome is based on clinic process data including number of clinic visits for which the participant is already engaged in depression treatment (denominator) and number of visits where the treatment decision follows the treatment algorithm (numerator) on each clinic day at each facility. Following the algorithm (positive outcome) is defined as: (1) if the participant has completed 6 counseling sessions, any action is acceptable; (2) otherwise, if the participant started counseling, either continuing counseling or starting medication; (3) if the participant started medication and PHQ-9 score <10, continuing medication; (4) if the participant started medication and PHQ-9 score >=10, continuing medication and increasing dose.
Within the first three months of follow-up after initiating depression treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants Achieving Depression Remission at 3 Months
Time Frame: Three months post enrollment
This secondary outcome is measured at the level of the consented participant. Depressive severity is determined using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; range 0-27). The PHQ-9 is a self-reported questionnaire measuring depressive symptoms.This is a nine item measure with a response score for each item on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). Thus, the total score ranges from 0 to 27, with 0-4 indicating no depressive symptoms, 5-9 mild depression, 10-14 moderate depression, 15-19 moderately severe depression, and 20-27 severe depression. Depression remission is defined as a score <5.
Three months post enrollment
Number of Participants With Well Controlled NCD at 3 Months
Time Frame: Three months post enrollment
This secondary outcome is measured at the level of the consented participant. Hypertension is measured by research assistants at each study visit while fasting blood glucose is measured as part of routine clinical care and will be abstracted. Well-controlled non-communicable disease (NCD) will be defined for hypertension patients as systolic blood pressure (BP) <140 mmHg AND diastolic blood pressure <90 mmHg, and for diabetes patients as fasting blood glucose <130 mg/dl, following the Malawi Clinical Guidelines for the Management of NCDs.
Three months post enrollment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Ministry of Health, Malawi

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 9, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 31, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 30, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 12, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 16, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 18, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 1, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 30, 2023

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 18-2211
  • 1U19MH113202-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Data will be shared via the National Institute of Mental Health Data Archive. This will include de-identified individual-level data. Other researchers can apply to the National Institute of Mental Health Data Archive to access these data.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Data will be uploaded every 6 months. The first expected upload is on July 15, 2019.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Access to the National Institute of Mental Health Data Archive is governed by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings