A Multi-Site Study of Strategies for Implementing Schizophrenia Guidelines

Schizophrenia, a chronic psychiatric disorder, is the second most frequent VA discharge diagnosis. Medication management practices for schizophrenia often are not guideline-concordant and place patients at risk for adverse outcomes. This project tests a new strategy to standard implementation for VHA Schizophrenia Guidelines.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Schizophrenia
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Test strategy for implementation guideline

Detailed Description

Background:

Schizophrenia, a chronic psychiatric disorder, is the second most frequent VA discharge diagnosis. Medication management practices for schizophrenia often are not guideline-concordant and place patients at risk for adverse outcomes. This project tests a new strategy to standard implementation for VHA Schizophrenia Guidelines.

Objectives:

Research objectives are: (1) to compare the effectiveness of a conceptually-based, enhanced intervention to that of a basic educational strategy with regard to improving guideline adherence and patient compliance; (2) to compare the effectiveness of the two strategies with regard to improving symptom and side effect outcomes; (3) to determine the effect of the enhanced intervention on service utilization for acute exacerbations of schizophrenia; (4) to determine the extent to which guideline-concordant medication management improves patient outcomes; and (5) to examine providers' knowledge of and attitudes toward guidelines.

Methods:

Thirteen VA sites were considered for the study, and VistA data were extracted to assess baseline guideline performance. Seven sites were selected and received basic education about schizophrenia guidelines. Three of these sites were randomly selected to receive the enhanced intervention, employing a nurse coordinator to promote providers' guideline adherence and patients' treatment adherence. Subjects with an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia were enrolled and were interviewed at baseline and six months using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Schizophrenia Outcomes Module, and the Barnes Akathisia Scale. Data on guideline adherence were collected from medical records and VistA files. When data collection is completed, analyses will be conducted to determine the effectiveness of the enhanced intervention with regard to improving guideline adherence and patient outcomes.

Status:

The project is ongoing. To date, 401 subjects have been enrolled in the intervention study. The rate of completed follow-up assessments to date is 86 percent.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 400
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • District of Columbia
    • Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20422
      • Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC
  • Louisiana
    • New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70112
      • Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA
  • Maryland
    • Tuscaloosa, Maryland, United States, 35404
      • Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Texas
    • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75216
      • VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX
    • San Antonio, Texas, United States, 78229
      • South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio, TX

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects must have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. 2. Subjects must have been admitted to an inpatient psychiatry unit or seen in an ambulatory care clinic or the Emergency Room at a study site for symptoms of acute exacerbation. 3. Must be able to provide informed consent themselves or informed consent by a guardian.

Exclusion Criteria:

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Arm 1	Behavioral: Test strategy for implementation guideline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: US Department of Veterans Affairs
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Richard R. Owen, MD, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center, Little Rock, AR

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hamilton J, Guthrie E, Creed F, Thompson D, Tomenson B, Bennett R, Moriarty K, Stephens W, Liston R. A randomized controlled trial of psychotherapy in patients with chronic functional dyspepsia. Gastroenterology. 2000 Sep;119(3):661-9. doi: 10.1053/gast.2000.16493.
• Owen RR, Hudson T, Thrush C, Thapa P, Armitage T, Landes RD. The effectiveness of guideline implementation strategies on improving antipsychotic medication management for schizophrenia. Med Care. 2008 Jul;46(7):686-91. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e3181653d43.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Completion (Actual): September 1, 2000

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 14, 2001
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 15, 2001
• First Posted (Estimate): March 16, 2001

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): April 7, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 6, 2015
• Last Verified: February 1, 2007

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia
• Other Study ID Numbers: CPG 97-027