A Quality Improvement Process to Support Delivery of Cardiovascular Care in Community Mental Health Organizations

Using an Innovative Quality Improvement Process to Increase Delivery of Evidence-based Cardiovascular Risk Factor Care in Community Mental Health Organizations

This pilot study will examine whether an implementation strategy will improve delivery of evidence-based care for cardiovascular risk factors for people with serious mental illness.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hypertension; Diabetes Mellitus; Dyslipidemias
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Comprehensive Unit Based Safety Program (CUSP)

Detailed Description

In this pilot study, the investigators will work with health home programs and pilot test an adapted Comprehensive Unit Safety Program (CUSP) implementation strategy to improve mental health providers' delivery of evidence-based cardiovascular risk factor care for hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes for individuals with serious mental illness. The project will also characterize implementation processes, organizational and provider-level factors, and cardiovascular disease risk factor care and control.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 85
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21224
      • Johns Hopkins Adult Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Study population 1:

• Psychiatric rehabilitation program and health home team staff, including providers and leadership are those employed by the psychiatric rehabilitation program or health home program.
• English-speaking.

Study population 2:

• People with serious mental illness participating in psychiatric rehabilitation health home programs.
• English-speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• None

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Comprehensive unit based safety (CUSP) intervention arm; CUSP is a quality improvement strategy developed by the Johns Hopkins University Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality that is used to improve care delivery.	Other: Comprehensive Unit Based Safety Program (CUSP); CUSP is a quality improvement strategy developed by the Johns Hopkins University Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality that is used to improve care delivery.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Quality Improvement Culture as Assessed by the Modified Version of the Validated Survey on Patient Safety	Each of the items in the modified survey is scored individually on 1-5 Likert scales. An average score is calculated by summing responses across all items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher average score signifies an organizational culture that is more supportive of quality improvement.	Baseline, 12 Months
Self-efficacy as Assessed by an Adapted Version of Compeau & Higgins' Task-focused Self-efficacy Scale	Each of the items (Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, Diabetes) are scored individually on a 1-10 Likert scale, where 1=not at all confident and 10=totally confident. An average score is calculated by summing responses across all items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-10. A higher score signifies greater self-efficacy.	Baseline, 12 Months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Acceptability as Assessed by the Acceptability of Intervention Measure	Validated 4-item instrument measuring intervention acceptability of the Evidence based practice and CUSP strategy using the Acceptability of Intervention Measure. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=completely disagree and 5=completely agree. An average score is calculated by summing responses across all items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies greater acceptability.	Baseline, 12 Months
Appropriateness as Assessed by the Intervention Appropriateness Measure	Four item instrument measuring intervention appropriateness of Evidence based practice and CUSP strategy using the Intervention Appropriateness Measure. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=completely disagree and 5= completely agree. An average score is calculated by summing responses across all items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies greater appropriateness.	Baseline, 12 Months
Feasibility as Assessed by the Feasibility of Intervention Measure	Four item instrument measuring intervention feasibility of Evidence based practice and CUSP strategy using the Feasibility of Intervention Measure. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=completely disagree and 5=completely agree. An average score is calculated by summing responses across all items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies greater feasibility.	Baseline, 12 Months
Clients With Hypertension Control	Measured with blood pressure (BP) readings reported by staff . Clients with control defined as a BP <130/80 mmHg.	Baseline and 12 Months
Clients With Dyslipidemia Control	Measured with cholesterol readings reported by staff. Clients with controlled dyslipidemia defined as total cholesterol <200 mg/dL and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) <130 mg/dL.	Baseline and 12 Months
Clients With Diabetes Control	Measured using HbA1c tests reported by staff . Clients with controlled diabetes defined as HbA1c<7.0.	Baseline and 12 Months
Clients Diagnosed With Diabetes Mellitus Who Received HBA1c Measurement	The number of clients who have a HBA1c measurement reported by the participating staff.	Baseline and 12 Months
Change in the Percent of Individuals Diagnosed With Diabetes Mellitus Who Received a Lipid Panel		Baseline, 6 and 12 months
Change in the Percent of Individuals Diagnosed With Diabetes Mellitus Who Received Statin Therapy		Baseline, 6 and 12 months
Change in the Percent of Individuals Diagnosed With Diabetes Mellitus Who Received a Dilated Eye Exam		Baseline, 6 and 12 months
Change in the Percent of Individuals Diagnosed With Diabetes Mellitus Who Received a Foot Exam		Baseline, 6 and 12 months
Clients Diagnosed With Dyslipidemia Who Received a Lipid Panel	The number of clients who have a lipid panel reported by the participating staff.	Baseline and 12 Months
Teamwork Within Teams as Assessed by the Implementation Climate Scale	Four items measuring teamwork. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree. An average score is calculated by summing responses across items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies better teamwork within units.	Baseline, 12 Months
Supervisor/Manager Expectations and Actions Promoting Quality as Assessed by the Implementation Climate Scale	Four items measuring the degree to which a provider's supervisor promotes quality improvement. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree. An average score is calculated by summing responses across items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies greater promotion of quality improvement.	Baseline, 12 Months
Organizational Learning Assessed by the Implementation Climate Scale	Three items measuring organizational learning environment. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree. An average score is calculated by summing responses across items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies greater organizational learning.	Baseline, 12 Months
Management Support for Patient Safety as Assessed by the Implementation Climate Scale	Three items measuring the degree to which organization management supports quality improvement. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree. An average score is calculated by summing responses across items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies greater management support for quality improvement.	Baseline, 12 Months
Overall Perceptions of Quality Improvement Culture as Assessed by the Implementation Climate Scale	Three items measuring the perception's of the organization's quality improvement culture. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree. An average score is calculated by summing responses across items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies better quality improvement culture.	Baseline, 12 Months
Feedback and Communication About Error as Assessed by the Implementation Climate Scale	Three items measuring feedback and communication about quality improvement. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=never and 5=always. An average score is calculated by summing responses across items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies better feedback and communication.	Baseline, 12 Months
Communication Openness as Assessed by the Implementation Climate Scale	Three items measuring perceptions of communication openness in the organization. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=never and 5=always. An average score is calculated by summing responses across items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies better communication openness.	Baseline, 12 Months
Frequency of Events Reported as Assessed by the Implementation Climate Scale	Three items assessing the degree to which mistakes are reported at the organization. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=never and 5=always. An average score is calculated by summing responses across items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies more frequent mistake reporting.	Baseline, 12 Months
Teamwork Across Teams as Assessed by the Implementation Climate Scale	Four items assessing teamwork across units. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree. An average score is calculated by summing responses across items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies better teamwork across units.	Baseline, 12 Months
Staffing as Assessed by the Implementation Climate Scale	Two items assessing staffing capacity. Each of the items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree. An average score is calculated by summing responses across items and dividing by the total number of items. The average score ranges from 1-5. A higher score signifies better staffing capacity.	Baseline, 12 Months
Clients With Hypertension Who Had a Blood Pressure Measurement	The number of clients who have a blood pressure measurement reported by the participating staff.	Baseline and 12 Months
Change in the Percent of Individuals Diagnosed With Diabetes Mellitus Who Received a Urine-protein-creatinine Test		Baseline, 6 and 12 months
Change in the Percent of Individuals Diagnosed With Dyslipidemia Who Are on a Statin Medication		Baseline, 6 and 12 months
Change in the Percent of Individuals Diagnosed With Hypertension Who Received Lifestyle Counseling		Baseline, 6 and 12 months
Change in the Percent of Individuals Diagnosed With Diabetes Mellitus Who Received Lifestyle Counseling		Baseline, 6 and 12 months
Change in the Percent of Individuals Diagnosed With Dyslipidemia Who Received Lifestyle Counseling		Baseline, 6 and 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
• Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Gail L Daumit, MD, Johns Hopkins University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• McGinty EE, Thompson D, Murphy KA, Stuart EA, Wang NY, Dalcin A, Mace E, Gennusa JV 3rd, Daumit GL. Adapting the Comprehensive Unit Safety Program (CUSP) implementation strategy to increase delivery of evidence-based cardiovascular risk factor care in community mental health organizations: protocol for a pilot study. Implement Sci Commun. 2021 Mar 4;2(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s43058-021-00129-6.
• Murphy KA, Gennusa J, Dalcin AT, Cook C, Goldsholl S, Fink T, Daumit GL, Wang NY, Thompson D, McGinty EE. Pilot of a team-based quality improvement strategy to improve cardiovascular risk factors care in community mental health centers. Front Psychiatry. 2025 Jan 31;16:1446985. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1446985. eCollection 2025.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 24, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 21, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): April 5, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 4, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 4, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): January 6, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): September 26, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 8, 2025
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Lipid Metabolism Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Hypertension; Diabetes Mellitus; Dyslipidemias
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB00269855; P50MH115842 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No