BACKGROUND: GPs are often the first point of contact for patients with prodromal schizophrenia. Early intervention, and therefore early detection, of schizophrenia is pivotal for the further disease course. However, recent studies have revealed that, due to its low prevalence in general practice and its insidious features, prodromal schizophrenia often remains unnoticed. AIM: To test whether a repeated sensitisation method using clinical vignettes can improve diagnostic knowledge of GPs. DESIGN OF STUDY: Postal survey using anonymous questionnaires. Repeated sensitisation model using clinical vignettes. SETTING: GPs in three distinct regions in Switzerland covering a general population of 1.43 million. METHOD: The study was conducted between September 2008 and October 2009. Questionnaires were sent to 1138 GPs at baseline, and at 6 and 12 months. After randomisation, 591 GPs were sensitised at 1, 3, and 5 months, while no sensitisation was carried out in the remaining 547 GPs. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 66% (750 GPs). Sensitised GPs demonstrated a highly significant increase in diagnostic knowledge at 6 and at 12 months when compared to their own baseline knowledge scores and also to non-sensitised GPs (P<0.001). In particular, awareness of insidious features, such as functional decline and social withdrawal as signs of prodromal schizophrenia, accounted for this effect. CONCLUSION: Theoretical knowledge of prodromal schizophrenia among GPs can successfully be increased by repeated sensitisation models using clinical vignettes.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: GPs are often the first point of contact for patients with prodromal schizophrenia. Early intervention, and therefore early detection, of schizophrenia is pivotal for the further disease course. However, recent studies have revealed that, due to its low prevalence in general practice and its insidious features, prodromal schizophrenia often remains unnoticed. AIM: To test whether a repeated sensitisation method using clinical vignettes can improve diagnostic knowledge of GPs. DESIGN OF STUDY: Postal survey using anonymous questionnaires. Repeated sensitisation model using clinical vignettes. SETTING: GPs in three distinct regions in Switzerland covering a general population of 1.43 million. METHOD: The study was conducted between September 2008 and October 2009. Questionnaires were sent to 1138 GPs at baseline, and at 6 and 12 months. After randomisation, 591 GPs were sensitised at 1, 3, and 5 months, while no sensitisation was carried out in the remaining 547 GPs. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 66% (750 GPs). Sensitised GPs demonstrated a highly significant increase in diagnostic knowledge at 6 and at 12 months when compared to their own baseline knowledge scores and also to non-sensitised GPs (P<0.001). In particular, awareness of insidious features, such as functional decline and social withdrawal as signs of prodromal schizophrenia, accounted for this effect. CONCLUSION: Theoretical knowledge of prodromal schizophrenia among GPs can successfully be increased by repeated sensitisation models using clinical vignettes.
Authors: B G Tiemens; J Ormel; J A Jenner; K van der Meer; T W Van Os; R H van den Brink; A Smit; W van den Brink Journal: Psychol Med Date: 1999-07 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: T W van Os; J Ormel; R H van den Brink; J A Jenner; K Van der Meer; B G Tiemens; W van der Doorn; A Smit; W van den Brink Journal: Gen Hosp Psychiatry Date: 1999 May-Jun Impact factor: 3.238
Authors: Jesus Perez; Huajie Jin; Debra A Russo; Jan Stochl; Michelle Painter; Gill Shelley; Erica Jackson; Carolyn Crane; Jonathan P Graffy; Tim J Croudace; Sarah Byford; Peter B Jones Journal: Lancet Psychiatry Date: 2015-08-19 Impact factor: 27.083
Authors: Jesus Perez; Debra A Russo; Jan Stochl; Sarah Byford; Jorge Zimbron; Jonathan P Graffy; Michelle Painter; Tim J Croudace; Peter B Jones Journal: Trials Date: 2013-07-17 Impact factor: 2.279