Implementing Effective, Collaborative Care for Schizophrenia (EQUIP-2) (EQUIP-2)

This project evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of a care model to improve treatment for schizophrenia within the context of diverse VA practices and priorities. The project provides information to VA clinicians and managers about Veterans with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who are overweight and/or who would like to return to competitive work. The project facilitates reorganization of care practices in order to get veterans needed and desired services around wellness and work. The project creates a platform that other clinical and research interventions can build upon to improve care, and is designed to inform a national strategy for implementing evidence-based care in schizophrenia.

Objectives: EQUIP-2 is a clinic-level controlled trial. From the four participating Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISNs), eight specialty mental health programs were enrolled and assigned to care as usual or to receive an intervention supporting evidence-based quality improvement and use of a chronic illness care model. Participants are VISN 3 (James J. Peters VA; Northport VA); VISN 16 (Houston VA; Shreveport VA); VISN 17 (Waco VA; Temple VA); and VISN 22 (Long Beach VA; Greater Los Angeles VA). The objectives of this VA Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) Service Directed Project are 1) assist in identifying and making available recovery-oriented services to veterans with schizophrenia; 2) implement information systems that efficiently and accurately identify patient status and who would be appropriate for these services; 3) implement a care model to support recovery-oriented care delivery; 4) evaluate, in a controlled trial, the effect of implementation on treatment delivery and patient outcomes; and 5) identify facilitators and barriers to wellness program participation in an effort to strengthen the weight management services available to patients with schizophrenia. The project studies intervention feasibility, acceptability, and impact on outcomes; performs qualitative analyses examining processes and variation in care model implementation and impact. Research includes a controlled trial of the impact of implementation, relative to usual care, on treatment quality. Participants include clinic staff and patients with schizophrenia. Data sources include interviews with participants, focus groups with a sub-set of patients, implementation documentation, the project informatics system, and VistA. Methods: The care model targets two clinical domains selected by the VISNs from the following: Supported Employment (SE), caregiver support, wellness programs, or clozapine. All 4 VISNs chose the same two targets: SE and wellness. The care model includes: 1) at each visit, routine collection of patient outcomes data and provision of decision support using a self-assessment kiosk; 2) provision of "psychiatric vital signs" to patients and clinicians at the time of the clinical encounter via report that prints from the kiosk; 3) education and activation of both clinicians and patients around the clinical targets; 4) regular reports identifying patients appropriate for services associated with these targets; and 5) facilitation of problem-solving and evidence-based quality improvement addressing any barriers to utilization of these services. To inform future wellness implementation, in-depth, semi-structured interviews are conducted with patients who participated in wellness groups ("participants"), and with patients who were referred (because they were overweight or obese) but did not participate ("non-participants"). Participants consist of all enrolled patients who attended the wellness program with special attention to those patients who completed at least half of the wellness program. Non-participants consist of patients who were referred to the wellness program but did not attend. Clinicians were interviewed specifically regarding wellness implementation.

Randomized Controlled Trial, Quality of Health Care, Health Services Research, Guidelines, Medical Informatics Computing, Services, Mental Health, Medicine, Evidenced-Based, Quality Assurance, Healthcare, Quality Indicators, Health Care, Veterans, Unemployment, Obesity, Quality Improvement

Collaborative Chronic Illness Care Model: A care model that integrates greater availability of clinical information, reorganizes the practice system and provider roles, fosters care coordination, and focuses on evidence-based protocols--specifically supported employment and wellness services for individuals with schizophrenia.

A care model that integrates greater availability of clinical information, reorganizes the practice system and provider roles, fosters care coordination, and focuses on evidence-based protocols--specifically supported employment and wellness services for individuals with schizophrenia.

The number of participants with one or more weight service appointments in the one year during implementation (implementation sites versus control sites) for those participants who were overweight at the baseline interview (e.g., eligible for weight services). This only includes participants who were overweight at the baseline interview (e.g., eligible for weight services).

Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to examine weight gained during treatment in implementation versus control groups. The dependent variable was final weight. Baseline weight, weight 6 months prior to baseline, and baseline psychotic and negative symptom subscales were included as covariates. The inclusion of weight 6 months prior to baseline served to control for subjects' weight gain/loss trajectories prior to entering the study. The two-way interactions of group by covariates were also included in the model.

The Effect of Care Model Implementation on Treatment Appropriateness: Supported Employment Utilization

The number of participants with one or more Supported Employment appointments in the one year during implementation (implementation sites versus control sites) for those participants who endorsed a desire to return to work at the baseline interview (e.g., eligible for Supported Employment services). This only includes participants who endorsed a desire to return to work at the baseline interview (e.g., eligible for Supported Employment services).

Chi-square analysis was used to examine competitive employment gained during treatment in implementation versus control groups. The dependent variable was competitive employment. Individuals included were only those who expressed interest in returning to work at both the baseline and follow-up interview time-points.

Inclusion Criteria: Clinicians and Managers: Psychiatrists, Case Managers, Nurses, Supported Employment workers Nutritionists, Local Recovery Coordinators, and Quality Improvement experts working at one of the participating VA Medical Centers Patients: At least 18 years old Diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective, or schizophreniform disorder At least 1 treatment visit with a clinician at the clinic during the 6 months prior to enrollment and then at least 1 treatment visit with a clinician at the clinic during the 5 months of enrollment. Exclusion Criteria: None

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Hamilton AB, Cohen AN, Glover DL, Whelan F, Chemerinski E, McNagny KP, Mullins D, Reist C, Schubert M, Young AS. Implementation of evidence-based employment services in specialty mental health. Health Serv Res. 2013 Dec;48(6 Pt 2):2224-44. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12115. Epub 2013 Oct 21.

Pedersen ER, Huang W, Cohen AN, Young AS. Alcohol use and service utilization among veterans in treatment for schizophrenia. Psychol Serv. 2018 Feb;15(1):21-30. doi: 10.1037/ser0000109. Epub 2017 Mar 13.