Evaluation of a Training for Healthcare Providers in Supporting Men Experiencing Suicidal Ideation

April 9, 2026 updated by: University Ghent
The primary objective of this study is to assess how healthcare providers perceive and evaluate the developed e-learning. The findings will inform potential adjustments to enhance the e-learning as needed.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

In a previous study (BUN: B6702024000090), the authors focused on identifying barriers and needs among adult men experiencing suicidal thoughts and their healthcare providers. Findings from this needs assessment indicate a demand for a training (e-learning) to equip healthcare providers with strategies for working effectively with men experiencing suicidal ideation. Additionally, the assessment among individuals with suicidal ideation identified several key recommendations and considerations which healthcare providers should incorporate into their practice. Therefore, an e-learning was developed with integrated psycho-education and the primary objective of this study is to assess how healthcare providers perceive and evaluate the developed e-learning. The findings will inform potential adjustments to enhance the e-learning as needed.

Participants will be recruited through announcements on the Flemish suicide prevention portal website (www.zelfmoord1813.be) and websites of relevant partners (i.e. VVKP, VVP, Gezond Leven, Psyché, Vivel, Logo's, CGG-SP, Domus Medica,…), as well as via social media (mainly Linkedin, Instagram and Facebook) and newsletters of the Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention and its relevant partner organizations.

Individuals interested in participating will be directed to register online through REDCap, where they will review and approve an informed consent form.After providing informed consent, participants will be asked to provide their email address.

The email address will be used solely for the following purposes:

- Sending a reminder to complete the post-test questionnaire three days later. Once consent is provided, participants will be directed to the online pre-test questionnaire (see Table 1), which takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Following the pre-test, participants will be directed to the e-learning module, which requires 30-60 minutes. At the end of the e-learning, healthcare providers will be asked to complete the post-test questionnaire, which is estimated to take 15 minutes. In case a participant does not complete the post-test, a reminder will be sent via e-mail three days later.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

119

Phase

  • 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

  • Belgium
      • Ghent, Belgium, 9000
        • Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention, Ghent University

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthcare providers (e.g. GP's, psychiatrists, medical doctors, psychologists, psychotherapists, and nurses working in healthcare)
  • ≥18y/o
  • Access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet connection and proficiency in Dutch

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Does not meet the specified inclusion criteria.

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: Prevention
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Gatekeeper training (e-learning)
Participants in this group (all participants) are asked to complete a questionnaire and then receive access to the online training (e-learning), after which they were asked to complete another questionnaire. In case a participant does not complete the post-test, a reminder will be sent via e-mail three days later.
Behavioral: Gatekeeper training (e-learning)

This training supplements existing modules for healthcare providers working with individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts (https://sp-reflex.zelfmoord1813.be/e-learning).

Specific information on working with men will be added:

  • Information on suicidality among men and the importance of gender-sensitive care.
  • Guidance on recognizing signs of suicidality in men and understanding gender differences in suicide-related communication.
  • Insights into the impact of gender norms and socialization on suicidality and help-seeking behavior in men experiencing suicidal thoughts.
  • Awareness of providers' own gender biases and the influence of societal gender norms in treating men with suicidal ideation.
  • Recommendations for engaging men in treatment, with specific guidance on language and approaches for interacting with men who have suicidal thoughts.

Additionally, the e-learning will a model psychoeducation about the role of norms for men experiencing suicidal ideation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Competencies related to working with male clients (self-efficacy)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline (before e-learning) to post-test (immediatly after e-learning of 30-60 minutes); assessed up to 3 days after pre-test

Adaptation of the Engaging Men in Therapy Scale (EMITS): scale of 13 items to be rated on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), resulting in a total score of 13-65. Higher scores indicating higher self-reported competency for engaging with male clients.

The adapted version consists of 8 items, as not all aspects of the original questionnaire are included in the evaluated e-learning.
Change from Baseline (before e-learning) to post-test (immediatly after e-learning of 30-60 minutes); assessed up to 3 days after pre-test
Evaluation of the training
Time Frame: Post-test (immediatly after e-learning of 30-60 minutes), up to 3 days after pre-test
self-developed questionnaire: score on a scale of 1 (not good at all) to 10 (Excellent); 10 evaluation statements to be rated on a scale of 1 (totally disagree) to 5 (totally agree); 9 open questions; one question about the length of the e-learning (too short, too long or just fine)
Post-test (immediatly after e-learning of 30-60 minutes), up to 3 days after pre-test

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
self-efficacy
Time Frame: Change from Baseline (before e-learning) to post-test (immediatly after e-learning of 30-60 minutes); assessed up to 3 days after pre-test
self-efficacy in working with men experiencing suicidal ideation: 2 questions on self-rated competence in recognizing and inquiring about suicide (1), discussing suicidal ideation withmen (2)to be rated on a 5-point scale (Not competent at all to very competent).
Change from Baseline (before e-learning) to post-test (immediatly after e-learning of 30-60 minutes); assessed up to 3 days after pre-test

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Socio-demographic variables
Time Frame: Baseline
Gender and age
Baseline
Experience with men with suicidal thoughts
Time Frame: Baseline
one question about experience with men with suicidal thoughts
Baseline
Work situation
Time Frame: Baseline
Self-developed questionnaire: Type of healthcare provider, current work place, experience, previous training in suicide prevention
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University Ghent

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Gwendolyn Portzky, PhD, University Ghent

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)

May 27, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 13, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

July 13, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 22, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 31, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

February 5, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 9, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ONZ-2024-0536

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

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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.

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