Journal article

A randomized trial to reduce the prevalence of depression and self-harm behavior in older primary care patients

OP Almeida, J Pirkis, N Kerse, M Sim, L Flicker, J Snowdon, B Draper, G Byrne, R Goldney, NT Lautenschlager, N Stocks, H Alfonso, JJ Pfaf

Annals of Family Medicine | ANNALS FAMILY MEDICINE | Published : 2012

Abstract

PURPOSE We wanted to determine whether an educational intervention targeting general practitioners reduces the 2-year prevalence of depression and self-harm behavior among their older patients. METHODS Our study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted between July 2005 and June 2008. We recruited 373 Australian general practitioners and 21,762 of their patients aged 60 years or older. The intervention consisted of a practice audit with personalized automated audit feedback, printed educational material, and 6 monthly educational newsletters delivered over a period of 2 years. Control physicians completed a practice audit but did not receive individualized feedback. They also rece..

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University of Melbourne Researchers