A Randomised Controlled Trial of an online mental health education program for physician supervisors

INTERVENTION: The intervention, HeadCoach for Physicians, has been adapted from a previously evaluated comprehensive online training program for managers called HeadCoach in collaboration with psychiatrists with expertise in workplace mental health, mental health online training experts and senior physicians supervising doctors‐in‐training. The adaptation of the program for physician supervisors is informed by information provided by physician supervisors and organisations involved in medical education, as well as research literature on mental health issues among doctors. Further amendments to the program have been made following the feedback received at the completion of the program pilot study. This version of the program aims to help supervisor physicians better recognise and understand mental health needs among trainee doctors and highlight what supervisors can do to help keep trainees as mentally healthy as possible. The online program is divided into 3 broad topics and each topic is divided into a set of 10‐minute modules. Topic 1. Common Mental Illnesses ‐ Recognising Mental Health Issues ‐ The Workplace and its People ‐ Providing Support Topic 2. Helping Trainees you are Concerned About (Responsive Strategies) ‐ Identifying Trainees at Risk ‐ Having the Talk ‐ Facilitating Help Seeking ‐ Returning to Work Topic 3. Minimising Mental Health Risks at Work (Preventive Strategies) ‐ Developing Work to Minimise Harm ‐ Building Organisational Resilience Through Good Supervision Each module comprises of text material, activities, short videos and practice exercises to complete as part of the training. It is expected the entire program will take approximately 2 hours. The program has been designed so users in the intervention group can complete it at their own pace and preferred times across a 3‐week period. The intervention will be delivered through a mobile responsive website and individuals can complete the intervention on a desktop, CONDITION: Mental Health ‐ Anxiety Mental Health ‐ Depression Mental Health ‐ Other mental health disorders Supervisor physicians' behaviour towards mental health issues among trainees;Supervisor physicians' confidence in supporting trainees experiencing mental health issues;Supervisor physicians' confidence in supporting mental health needs of all trainees; ; Supervisor physicians' behaviour towards mental health issues among trainees ; Supervisor physicians' confidence in supporting trainees experiencing mental health issues ; Supervisor physicians' confidence in supporting mental health needs of all trainees PRIMARY OUTCOME: Change in behaviour: supervisor physicians' change in the implementation of preventive and responsive behaviours aimed at creating a mentally healthy workplace and for the management of mental health issues within their team will be assessed through self‐report measures based on the HSE Management Standards Indicator Tool (http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/assets/docs/indicatortool.pdf) and also a questionnaire developed by the researchers used in a previously conducted RCT evaluating supervisor training (Gayed, A. et al., 2019).[Change from baseline in behaviour at 3‐months. Post‐intervention/3 weeks past baseline, and 6 months will also be assessed.] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Mental Health attitudes: physician supervisors’ knowledge and attitudes about mental health in the workplace will be measured using ; [Post‐intervention/3 weeks past baseline, 3‐ and 6‐ months post baseline] Mental Health Knowledge: physician supervisors’ knowledge about mental health in the workplace will be measured using INCLUSION CRITERIA: Supervisor Physician Level: 18 years or older Good English comprehension Supervising a team of physician trainees Currently residing in Australia or New Zealand ; • a mental health literacy questionnaire that was used in a previously conducted RCT evaluating supervisor training (Gayed, A. et al., 2019). This 10‐item measure asks a series of questions about the participants’ understanding of various mental health issues with a 5‐point Likert scale ranging from 'Strongly Disagree' to 'Strongly Agree'.[Post‐intervention/3‐weeks past baseline, 3‐ and 6‐months post baseline] Mental Health knowledge and attitudes: physician supervisors’ knowledge and attitudes about mental health in the workplace will be measured using a combined 22 item measure that includes questions used in a previously conducted RCT evaluating supervisor training (Gayed, A. et al., 2019) and items adapted from previously used questionnaires (Shann C et al., 2014; Martin A, & Giallo R. 2015). ; • the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS) (Evans‐Lacks, S. et al., 2010) used in a previous evaluation of manager training (Gayed et al, 2019). The items are scored on a 5‐point scale (1‐5) with ‘don’t know’ coded as neutral (ie: 3) and assesses stigma‐related mental health knowledge among the general public.[Post‐intervention/3‐weeks past baseline, 3‐and 6‐ months post baseline] Supervisor self‐reported confidence: confidence in managing mental health issues and promoting a mentally healthy workplace will be measured using a supervisor scale utilised in a previously conducted RCT evaluating supervisor training (Gayed, A., et al.,. 2019). This scale describes six workplace scenarios and asks supervisors to indicate their level of confidence in dealing with each of these, on a five‐point Likert scale ranging from not at all to extremely confident. This results in an overall confidence score ranging from 6 to 30. The wording of these vignettes aims to focus on supervisors’ self‐efficacy and perceived confidence. [Post‐intervention/3 weeks past baseline, 3‐ and 6‐months post baseline]