NCT01326936

Brief Summary

This project seeks to develop a comprehensive, computer-based education program for primary care physicians that will improve their skills in structured substance abuse screening, brief interventions, and referral and treatment (SBIRT). The investigators will develop two online education programs based on virtual patient (VP) technology. One program will include five typical, interactive, problem-solving VPs and the second will include five identical VPs except that two VPs will have been "worked" by substance abuse experts and presented as case studies. The remaining three VPs will be "unworked" (typical VPs). The investigators hypothesize that both education programs will significantly improve educational outcomes, compared to no training, as measured by a validated survey tool. A secondary hypothesis is that physicians using the "worked" (guided learning) program will achieve similar educational results as those using the typical VP approach, but will require less training time.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
120

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Aug 2011

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

March 29, 2011

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

March 31, 2011

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

August 1, 2011

Completed
8 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 1, 2012

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

May 1, 2012

Completed
Last Updated

July 25, 2012

Status Verified

July 1, 2012

Enrollment Period

8 months

First QC Date

March 29, 2011

Last Update Submit

July 23, 2012

Conditions

Medical Education

Keywords

Online educationMedical educationSubstance abuse trainingDrug abuse training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Scores on The Physicians' Competence in Substance Abuse Test (P-CSAT)

    The Physicians' Competence in Substance Abuse Test (P-CSAT) was developed as part of this project. Information, including a complete description of the P-CSAT, has been submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal

    Following completion of education program and 2 months later

Study Arms (2)

Unworked VP

EXPERIMENTAL

Online education using typical virtual patient (VP) approach. Five unworked VPs presented to subjects for study.

Behavioral: Online education

Guided Learning

EXPERIMENTAL

Online education replaces two unworked VPs in Arm 1 with identical worked example VPs (case studies) for learners to study

Behavioral: Online education

Interventions

Online educationBEHAVIORAL

A brief (2-hour) interactive online training program in substance abuse (SU) management using virtual patient (VP) technology. Each learner will take one of two similar online programs involving five VPs that represent the range of SU management issues that commonly arise in clinical practice.

Guided LearningUnworked VP

Eligibility Criteria

Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Physician in primary care training program
  • Faculty member in primary care training program

You may not qualify if:

  • Advanced medical training in substance abuse management

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Medical Directions, Inc.

Tucson, Arizona, 85712, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Harris JM Jr, Sun H. The Physicians' Competence in Substance Abuse Test (P-CSAT): a multidimensional educational measurement tool for substance abuse training programs. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2012 May 1;122(3):236-40. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.10.006. Epub 2011 Nov 4.

    PMID: 22055011RESULT

Study Officials

  • John M Harris, Jr., MD

    Medical Directions, Inc

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
INDUSTRY
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

March 29, 2011

First Posted

March 31, 2011

Study Start

August 1, 2011

Primary Completion

April 1, 2012

Study Completion

May 1, 2012

Last Updated

July 25, 2012

Record last verified: 2012-07

Locations

US(1)