Ignite Creation Date:
2024-05-05 @ 4:39 PM
Last Modification Date:
2024-10-26 @ 9:22 AM
Study NCT ID:
NCT00281398
Status:
COMPLETED
Last Update Posted:
2013-06-20
First Post:
2006-01-18
Brief Title:
Attitudes of Medical Trainees Towards Homeless Persons Presenting for Care in the Emergency Department
Sponsor:
Unity Health Toronto
Organization:
Unity Health Toronto
Study Overview
Official Title:
Attitudes of Medical Trainees Towards Homeless Persons Presenting for Care in the Emergency Department
Status:
COMPLETED
Status Verified Date:
2008-06
Last Known Status:
None
Delayed Posting:
No
If Stopped, Why?:
Not Stopped
Has Expanded Access:
False
If Expanded Access, NCT#:
N/A
Has Expanded Access, NCT# Status:
N/A
Acronym:
None
Brief Summary:
Homelessness is a significant problem in Canada and many homeless people will seek routine care in the Emergency Department ED as a result of barriers to access There is a paucity of information in the literature concerning the attitudes of health care workers towards homeless patients in the ED setting although there is ample reason to believe that these attitudes may be suboptimal In the absence of formal teaching regarding issues of homelessness medical students have been shown to develop increasingly negative attitudes towards this vulnerable population It is therefore important to better delineate the attitudes of ED physicians towards homeless persons and to develop an emergency medicine curriculum that helps sensitize physicians to the needs of this already disadvantaged population
Detailed Description:
Homelessness increased dramatically in the 1990s and has become a significant problem for Canadian cities The homeless are at increased risk for both traumatic injuries and serious health problems Because of significant barriers to access to care a large proportion of homeless persons will present to the Emergency Department ED for acute and routine care When homeless individuals were asked what was the most difficult aspect of being homeless negative reactions by shelter workers and health care providers were included as major themes Despite the recognition that many homeless people are treated in the ED there is little information regarding the attitudes of ED staff and medical trainees towards these patients and their care Furthermore there are no North American curriculum requirements for emergency medicine trainees regarding homelessness or urban health In the medical setting exposure alone to homeless patients may negatively impact the attitudes of trainees We propose to study the attitudes towards homelessness of medical trainees before and after emergency department rotations at an inner city hospital and to define whether implementation of a curriculum on homelessness has a positive impact on attitudes
This study will be completed over a two year period During the first year of the study we will survey trainees attitudes before and after clinical emergency department rotations We propose to survey the attitudes of medical trainees using the validated questionnaire the Attitudes Towards Homelessness Inventory ATHI A homeless curriculum will be developed using feedback from house staff health care providers community partners and agencies All undergraduate and postgraduate students will be eligible to participate In the second year of the study attitudes will be surveyed before and after completion of the clinical rotation and didactic training
The primary outcome of interest is to compare the overall ATHI rating of students who are not exposed to the curriculum to those who are exposed Secondary outcome measures include comparisons of pre and post rotation scores for each trainee Subgroups will be analyzed according to training program time of ED rotation and prior workplace exposure to homeless persons
This study will be completed over a two year period During the first year of the study we will survey trainees attitudes before and after clinical emergency department rotations We propose to survey the attitudes of medical trainees using the validated questionnaire the Attitudes Towards Homelessness Inventory ATHI A homeless curriculum will be developed using feedback from house staff health care providers community partners and agencies All undergraduate and postgraduate students will be eligible to participate In the second year of the study attitudes will be surveyed before and after completion of the clinical rotation and didactic training
The primary outcome of interest is to compare the overall ATHI rating of students who are not exposed to the curriculum to those who are exposed Secondary outcome measures include comparisons of pre and post rotation scores for each trainee Subgroups will be analyzed according to training program time of ED rotation and prior workplace exposure to homeless persons
Study Oversight
Has Oversight DMC:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Drug?:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Device?:
None
Is an Unapproved Device?:
None
Is a PPSD?:
None
Is a US Export?:
None
Is an FDA AA801 Violation?:
None