Training to reduce implicit bias in school mental health clinicians

Addressing Clinician Bias to Improve Equitable Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice-Virtual Implicit Bias Reduction and Neutralization Training (VIBRANT)

This study tests whether an online training program can help school mental health clinicians reduce their hidden biases to better support students from different ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 400 (estimated)
• Ages: 11 Years to 99 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Washington (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Seattle, Washington)
• Trial ID: NCT05970991 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief online training program called Virtual Implicit Bias Reduction and Neutralization Training (VIBRANT) designed for school mental health clinicians. The training focuses on addressing implicit bias that affects clinical decision-making and the clinician-patient relationship, particularly for ethnic/racial minoritized youth. By implementing this training, the study seeks to promote equitable adoption of evidence-based practices in mental healthcare settings. The intervention includes interactive online modules, live consultations, and discussion boards to enhance learning and application.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study include school-based mental health clinicians who provide ongoing services to students, particularly those with a significant proportion of Black or Latinx youth in their caseload.

Not a fit: Patients who do not identify as Black or Latinx or are not receiving ongoing mental health services in a school setting may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this training could lead to improved mental health care quality for ethnic minority youth by reducing clinician bias.

How similar studies have performed: While some implicit bias interventions have shown promise, this specific approach targeting mental health professionals in school settings is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Inclusion criteria for each of the subjects participating in the study as follows:

1. Participating clinicians must…

   1. Provide school-based mental health services in middle and high school settings for at least 50% of their clinical deployment.
   2. Provide on-going 1:1 mental health services to students (e.g., not assessment only).
   3. Have a caseload (who is receiving on-going care) that consists of at least 20% of Black or Latinx students.
2. Participating youths must…

   1. Identify as Black/African American or/and Hispanic/Latina/Latino/Latinx
   2. be entering into ongoing treatment with a participating clinician in the school mental health setting
3. Participating caregivers must… a. be a primary caregiver to the youth who can answer questions about the youth's daily behaviors and emotional well-being

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion criteria for each of the subjects participating:

1. School-based mental health clinicians

   1. Clinician who previously participated in a measurement-based care (MBC) related study with our team and have already been exposed to our online MBC training.
   2. Clinicians who have participated in a previous study related to VIBRANT.
2. Black \& Latinx youth

   1. Youths with a developmental or learning disability that would interfere with their ability to accurately give informed consent or assent and reliable completion of study assessments.
   2. Youths who do not speak English or Spanish
3. Caregivers

   1. Caregivers who do not reside with the youth or would otherwise have adequate daily contact to report on the youth's typical behaviors and/or emotional well-being.
   2. Caregiver who do not speak English or Spanish

Where this trial is running

Seattle, Washington

• University of Washington — Seattle, Washington, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Freda Liu, PhD — University of Washington
• Study coordinator: Freda Liu, PhD

Conditions Implicit Bias