Toward Gender Aware VA Healthcare: Development and Evaluation of an Intervention

Women's Health Clinical Trial

Official title:

Toward Gender Aware VA Health Care: Development and Evaluation of an Intervention

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00156663
• Other study ID #: GEN 20-057
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: August 25, 2005
• Last updated: April 6, 2015
• Start date: May 2004
• Est. completion date: September 2005

Study information

• Verified date: February 2007
• Source: VA Office of Research and Development
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an educational program intended to raise staff awareness about women veterans and their health care needs and preferences.

Description:

OBJECTIVES:

The primary objective of this project was to develop and evaluate a computerized program that would enhance Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employees� awareness of women veterans and their health-care needs. The program was designed to challenge negative stereotypes about female patients (gender-role ideology), increase empathy toward female patients� needs (gender sensitivity), and enhance knowledge regarding women veterans and aspects of their VHA care (knowledge).

DESIGN/METHODS:

Phases I involved generating content for the computerized interactive program. Phase II involved creating the 30-minute program. The Phase III evaluation of the program involved a two-group pretest�posttest�follow-up equivalent control group design at two facilities with a third facility comparison group. At the first two facilities, employees who provide either direct or ancillary care to patients were randomly assigned to either the treatment or the control group. Participants in the treatment group completed the program entitled Caring for Women Veterans. Participants in the control group and those at the third site completed a 30-minute program entitled Managing Stress. The data from the third site were included to test for infusion of the treatment effect within same-site groups. Gender awareness was evaluated at three time points using the Gender Awareness Inventory-VA (GAI-VA). Participants completed the GAI-VA several weeks prior to completing the computerized program (Time 1, n =339), immediately after completing the program (Time 2, n = 249), and approximately one month after the program (Time 3, n = 167). Participants also completed a qualitative evaluation of the program at Time 2.

STATUS:

Complete.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 250
• Est. completion date: September 2005
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants must be VHA employees who have direct or indirect contact with patients.

Exclusion Criteria:

Employees who have no contact with patients.

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Women's Health

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Caring for Women Veterans

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA	Bedford	Massachusetts
United States	VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA	Boston	Massachusetts

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
VA Office of Research and Development

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (1)

Vogt DS, Barry AA, King LA. Toward gender-aware health care: evaluation of an intervention to enhance care for female patients in the VA setting. J Health Psychol. 2008 Jul;13(5):624-38. doi: 10.1177/1359105308090934. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Gender Awareness is measured during the pre-test, immediately after the educational program, and approximately four weeks after the subject participates in the educational program.			No
Secondary	Participants rate their enjoyment of the educational program and offer recommendations for the program as needed.			No