Mental Health DisorderNCT03043417
Stigma Intervention Among Primary Health Workers in Toronto
A study testing CHC's given the intervention in people with Mental Health Disorder and Substance Use, run by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
This project is measuring the effectiveness of an anti-stigma intervention among primary care providers. Both staff and clients will be asked to complete survey data in order to measure the effectiveness. This is a randomized control trial in that three health centres will receive the intervention and three will not. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mental Health Disorder, Substance Use
- What is being tested?
- CHC's given the intervention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 485 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- May 2014to Aug 2017
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Staff - all staff, no matter their position, is asked to participate.
- Clients - individuals reporting current or past mental illness and/or substance use problems (MHSUD) AND have received services or participate in any programming at the CHC
Who cannot join
- Staff - no exclusion criteria
- Clients - Clients under the age of 18 years, clients who do not have a MHSUD, or clients that are not safely able to participate.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Exploring Stigma, Discrimination, and Recovery-based Perspectives Toward Mental Illness and Substance Use Problems
This project is measuring the effectiveness of an anti-stigma intervention among primary care providers. Both staff and clients will be asked to complete survey data in order to measure the effectiveness. This is a randomized control trial in that three health centres will receive the intervention and three will not. Results will determine if this intervention reduces stigma among staff toward people with a mental health problem and/or substance use problem.
Read the detailed description
The Office of Transformative Global Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), with funding provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), has developed and will be implementing a three year anti-stigma study. This project is a randomized control study which compares the effectiveness of an anti-stigma intervention in three Toronto community health centres. Six centres were selected and randomized so that three receive the intervention and the other three do not. The goal is to determine if the intervention impacts service providers' attitudes and behaviours towards people with mental health problems and addictions. Additionally, the study measures client's perceptions of stigma in order to see if they believe stigma has been reduced or eliminated. The interventions incorporate the following components: innovative contact-based training, raising awareness, recovery-based arts, and a thorough analysis of each centre's policies and procedures.
Innovative contact-based training utilizes an adult education model and focuses on the results of a preliminary situational assessment conducted at each site. Emphasis is placed on concurrent disorders, cultural issues, and inter-professional collaboration. Four three-hour workshops were held at each intervention CHC throughout the project period and included a needs-based curriculum, contact-based education to reduce prejudice and social intolerance, and culturally competent care for vulnerable populations. Raising awareness includes various forms of media such as posters to increase awareness about stigma.
Recovery-based arts was geared towards a local team of leaders who selected one art form for their CHC and were taught by an art expert. Approximately ten service users with a mental health and/or substance abuse problem were invited to participate along with three staff members. After 10 bi-weekly art workshops, staff and clients will showcase their work at each CHC. Finally, an analysis of policies and procedures have been conducted by research staff. This determines what already exists and using an anti-stigma/pro-recovery approach to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Program and policies were studied to identify unintended positive and negative impacts using a modified version of the Health Equity Assessment Tool. Features of the Quality Rights Tool Kit were also used. Recommendations from this process will be developed and shared with each CHC.
- Conditions
- Mental Health Disorder, Substance Use
- Being tested
- CHC's given the intervention
- Keywords
- Stigma, Primary Health Care, Recovery
- Medical subject headings
- Mental Disorders, Substance-Related Disorders, Social Stigma
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
CHC's given the interventionBehavioural
CHC's NOT given the intervention
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| CHC's given the intervention | Experimental | Three CHC sites where all staff receive all components of the intervention. Training, Media, Art workshops, and a Policy analysis as well as survey completion. Receives: Behavioral: CHC's given the intervention |
| CHC's with NO intervention | No intervention | Three CHC sites where all staff and a selection of clients complete surveys but receive no intervention. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC)
The OMS-HC is a 20-item Canadian scale that was developed specifically to measure stigma among healthcare providers toward individuals with mental illness.This scale has good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.82), satisfactory test-retest reliability, intra-class correlation (0.66; 95% CI: 0.54-0.75)59 and sensitivity to change.
Measured: 2 years
Mental Illness: Clinicians Attitudes Scale (MICA)
MICA is a 16-item scale that was also designed to measure attitudes among healthcare workers toward individuals with mental illness.The MICA scale has good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79), with a test-retest reliability (concordance) of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.68-0.91).
Measured: 2 years
Modified Borgadus Social Distance Scale
The Modified Borgadus Social Distance Scale is based on the Borgadus Social Distance Scale.Our study will use a modified six-item version of this scale, focusing specifically on persons with one key mental illness (schizophrenia) and one key addiction (heroin dependence).
Measured: 2 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Feb 2017 (estimated)
- Study startMay 2014
- Primary completionJul 2017
- Study completionAug 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Mental Health DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 485 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Akwatu A Khenti, MA, Principal investigator, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03043417
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 0512014
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Dec 2016
- Last updated
- 13 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Khenti A, Mann R, Sapag JC, Bobbili SJ, Lentinello EK, Maas MV, Agic B, Hamilton H, Stuart H, Patten S, Sanches M, Corrigan P. Protocol: a cluster randomised control trial study exploring stigmatisation and recovery-based perspectives regarding mental illness and substance use problems among primary healthcare providers across Toronto, Ontario. BMJ Open. 2017 Nov 20;7(11):e017044. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017044.
PubMed 29162572
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Exploring Stigma, Discrimination, and Recovery-based Perspectives Toward Mental Illness and Substance Use Problems
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03043417
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 0512014
- Conditions
- Mental Health Disorder, Substance Use
- Keywords
- Stigma, Primary Health Care, Recovery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 485 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Study start
- May 2014
- Primary completion
- Jul 2017 (actual)
- Study completion
- Aug 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Feb 2017 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This project is measuring the effectiveness of an anti-stigma intervention among primary care providers. Both staff and clients will be asked to complete survey data in order to measure the effectiveness. This is a randomized control trial in that three health centres will receive the intervention and three will not. Results will determine if this intervention reduces stigma among staff toward people with a mental health problem and/or substance use problem.
Detailed description
The Office of Transformative Global Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), with funding provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), has developed and will be implementing a three year anti-stigma study. This project is a randomized control study which compares the effectiveness of an anti-stigma intervention in three Toronto community health centres. Six centres were selected and randomized so that three receive the intervention and the other three do not. The goal is to determine if the intervention impacts service providers' attitudes and behaviours towards people with mental health problems and addictions. Additionally, the study measures client's perceptions of stigma in order to see if they believe stigma has been reduced or eliminated. The interventions incorporate the following components: innovative contact-based training, raising awareness, recovery-based arts, and a thorough analysis of each centre's policies and procedures.
Innovative contact-based training utilizes an adult education model and focuses on the results of a preliminary situational assessment conducted at each site. Emphasis is placed on concurrent disorders, cultural issues, and inter-professional collaboration. Four three-hour workshops were held at each intervention CHC throughout the project period and included a needs-based curriculum, contact-based education to reduce prejudice and social intolerance, and culturally competent care for vulnerable populations. Raising awareness includes various forms of media such as posters to increase awareness about stigma.
Recovery-based arts was geared towards a local team of leaders who selected one art form for their CHC and were taught by an art expert. Approximately ten service users with a mental health and/or substance abuse problem were invited to participate along with three staff members. After 10 bi-weekly art workshops, staff and clients will showcase their work at each CHC. Finally, an analysis of policies and procedures have been conducted by research staff. This determines what already exists and using an anti-stigma/pro-recovery approach to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Program and policies were studied to identify unintended positive and negative impacts using a modified version of the Health Equity Assessment Tool. Features of the Quality Rights Tool Kit were also used. Recommendations from this process will be developed and shared with each CHC.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| CHC's given the intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: CHC's given the interventionThree CHC sites where all staff receive all components of the intervention. Training, Media, Art workshops, and a Policy analysis as well as survey completion. |
| CHC's with NO intervention | No intervention | –Three CHC sites where all staff and a selection of clients complete surveys but receive no intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Staff - all staff, no matter their position, is asked to participate.
- Clients - individuals reporting current or past mental illness and/or substance use problems (MHSUD) AND have received services or participate in any programming at the CHC
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Staff - no exclusion criteria
- Clients - Clients under the age of 18 years, clients who do not have a MHSUD, or clients that are not safely able to participate.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| CHC's given the interventionCHC's NOT given the intervention | Behavioural | CHC's given the intervention |
Primary outcome
Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC)
Time frame: 2 years
The OMS-HC is a 20-item Canadian scale that was developed specifically to measure stigma among healthcare providers toward individuals with mental illness.This scale has good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.82), satisfactory test-retest reliability, intra-class correlation (0.66; 95% CI: 0.54-0.75)59 and sensitivity to change.
Mental Illness: Clinicians Attitudes Scale (MICA)
Time frame: 2 years
MICA is a 16-item scale that was also designed to measure attitudes among healthcare workers toward individuals with mental illness.The MICA scale has good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79), with a test-retest reliability (concordance) of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.68-0.91).
Modified Borgadus Social Distance Scale
Time frame: 2 years
The Modified Borgadus Social Distance Scale is based on the Borgadus Social Distance Scale.Our study will use a modified six-item version of this scale, focusing specifically on persons with one key mental illness (schizophrenia) and one key addiction (heroin dependence).
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Apr 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 29162572Khenti A, Mann R, Sapag JC, Bobbili SJ, Lentinello EK, Maas MV, Agic B, Hamilton H, Stuart H, Patten S, Sanches M, Corrigan P. Protocol: a cluster randomised control trial study exploring stigmatisation and recovery-based perspectives regarding mental illness and substance use problems among primary healthcare providers across Toronto, Ontario. BMJ Open. 2017 Nov 20;7(11):e017044. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017044.
- Information about research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and a PAHO/WHO Collaborating CentreLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Akwatu A Khenti, MA principal investigator
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing CHC's given the intervention in people with Mental Health Disorder and Substance Use, run by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC) (time frame: 2 years). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03043417, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Apr 2026.