Rights training improved staff knowledge and attitudes in Ghanaian psychiatric hospitals
Hospital staff receiving WHO QualityRights training also reported less substitute decision-making and restraint, but these practice outcomes were self-reported.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
According to the abstract, online training about rights improved professionals' knowledge and attitudes compared with an alternative training course. These differences remained evident at later follow-ups. Staff also reported less frequent substitute decision-making and restraint. The practice results describe providers' reports and should not be read as independently verified reductions in coercive care.
Practice changes were reported by professionals themselves. The trial was limited to psychiatric hospitals in Ghana, and the abstract does not report direct observations or patient accounts of whether care changed.
What researchers found
Mean difference in rights-knowledge scores
WHO QualityRights Knowledge questionnaire after training, versus COVID-19 training; 95% CI 3.49 to 5.72.
What the course involved
The intervention used presentations, videos, interactive activities and forum discussion. Researchers assigned hospital units to training groups and measured staff knowledge and attitudes with WHO questionnaires; analysts were unaware of group assignments.
What the outcomes capture
Knowledge and attitude scores improved, and later questionnaires suggested changes in reported practices. These included making decisions in place of patients and using restraint. Such reports differ from direct observations of care or patients' accounts.
The original publication
Evaluating the efficacy of the WHO QualityRights e-training in promoting the rights of persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities: a cluster randomised controlled trial in Ghana.
Moro MF, Gyimah L, Susser E et al.
BMJ Glob Health · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41365627
- Record checked
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