What side effects are associated with this type of intervention?

Educational and counseling interventions for domestic violence and intimate partner violence, such as those studied in the VEGA program, generally have minimal physical side effects. However, they can sometimes lead to emotional and psychological stress for both the provider and the patient. Providers may experience burnout or secondary traumatic stress from dealing with traumatic disclosures. Patients might feel distress or anxiety when discussing their experiences, which can sometimes lead to temporary emotional discomfort. It is crucial for providers to be trained in handling these situations sensitively and to have access to support systems to manage their own well-being.

What prior FDA approvals exist?

There are no FDA-approved drugs specifically for the treatment of domestic violence. However, medications such as antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics are sometimes used to manage the psychological and behavioral symptoms associated with domestic violence, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The VEGA educational program focuses on enhancing physicians' preparedness, knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy to recognize and respond to child maltreatment and intimate partner violence, which is a non-pharmacological approach aimed at improving clinical care and outcomes.

What other types of research exist?

Promising alternatives to the VEGA educational program include trauma-informed care (TIC) curricula for primary care providers, which have shown positive reactions, increased knowledge, improved screening and communication, and enhanced patient satisfaction. These programs focus on understanding the health effects of trauma and integrating this knowledge into patient care. Additionally, the RISE With Residents program, which emphasizes the complex overlap between IPV and child maltreatment, could be a valuable alternative, especially for pediatric and psychiatry residents.

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VEGA Education for Child Abuse (RISE Residents Trial)

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Melissa Kimber, PhD, MSW, RSW

Research Sponsored by McMaster University

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be older than 18 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up through study completion, an average of 4 months

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial tests the VEGA Project, a training program for pediatric and psychiatry residents to improve their skills in identifying and responding to child abuse. The program offers both guided and self-directed learning options. It aims to make doctors more confident and knowledgeable about handling child abuse cases.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for psychiatry or pediatrics residents at McMaster University or the University of Toronto who speak and write English fluently. It's not open to those who've used VEGA materials before or will be in another family violence educational program soon.

What is being tested?

The study tests the VEGA education intervention, designed to help doctors recognize and respond to child maltreatment (CM) effectively. Residents will either lead themselves through it or have a facilitator guide them, and their preparedness will be measured over time.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this is an educational intervention rather than a medical treatment, traditional side effects are not applicable. However, participants may experience stress or discomfort when discussing sensitive topics like CM.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ time 1 (one week before intervention), time 2 (immediately after the intervention), time 3 (3 month follow-up)

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~time 1 (one week before intervention), time 2 (immediately after the intervention), time 3 (3 month follow-up)

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and time 1 (one week before intervention), time 2 (immediately after the intervention), time 3 (3 month follow-up) for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Number of Residents Who Meet Eligibility Criteria

Number of Residents who Complete Assessments

Number of Residents who Complete Assigned Intervention

+1 more

Secondary study objectives

Achievement Goals for Work Domain (AGWD)

Brief Individual Readiness for Change Scale (BIRCS)

Child Maltreatment Knowledge and Skills Questions (Developed by VEGA Team)

+3 more

Other study objectives

Demographics

Previous Training in Child Maltreatment

Satisfaction with VEGA Training

+1 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Self-Directed VEGAExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Self-directed VEGA uses an approach where participants complete the Violence, Evidence, Guidance, Action Project (VEGA) content online as a self-directed educational activity, at their own pace in a series of modules. Individuals will register to access the VEGA Educational Resources site. Participants have the option of completing the self-directed VEGA arm in either English or French as the VEGA Educational Resources site offers the content in French and English. If a participant is randomized to the experimental arm, they will be asked to complete the self-directed VEGA at their convenience, within one week of when they are informed they have been asked to complete the self-directed VEGA program. It will take approximately 3 hours for participants to complete all modules. Participants will read didactic material, complete case-based animated simulations, and complete individual multiple-choice questions with response feedback.

Group II: Facilitator-Led VEGAActive Control1 Intervention

Facilitator-led VEGA uses a group-based approach where participants complete the Violence, Evidence, Guidance, Action Project (VEGA) content as a virtual or face-to-face workshop. In this study, all workshops will be virtual to prevent social gathering during COVID-19. If a participant is randomized to this arm, the active control (AC) arm, they will be informed that they need to attend a facilitator-led VEGA session via virtual workshop format. The AC intervention will be facilitated via Zoom technology, by two trained facilitators with between 10 to 20 participants in each workshop (keeping the recommended 10:1 participant-to-facilitator ratio) and will last approximately 3 hours. The workshop approach is delivered by trained facilitators and is standardized via the use of a flexibly structured facilitator's guide. Facilitator-led VEGA will deliver material didactically with synchronous lecturing, use case-based role play, and include group-based polling.

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Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.

Mechanism Of Action

Side Effect Profile

Prior Approvals

Other Research

The VEGA educational program aims to improve physicians' ability to recognize and respond to child maltreatment and intimate partner violence (IPV) by enhancing their preparedness, knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy. Common treatments for domestic violence include trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps patients process and reframe traumatic experiences, and supportive psychotherapy, which provides emotional support and coping strategies. These treatments are crucial for domestic violence patients as they address the psychological impact of abuse, promote healing, and empower patients to regain control over their lives. By equipping physicians with the skills to identify and intervene in cases of domestic violence, the VEGA program ensures timely and effective support for affected individuals.