Effectiveness of Project ECHO Programs in Improving Clinician Knowledge and Confidence in Managing Complex Psychiatric Patients: a Waitlist-Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE: The authors aimed to determine if Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO), a health-education model utilising teleconferencing technology, improves the capacity of clinicians in assessing and managing complex psychiatric patients. METHODS: Three pilot Project ECHO programs were evaluated as a prospective waitlist-controlled trial, focusing on Adult Eating Disorders, Adult Intellectual Disability Mental Health, and General Mental Health. Each program comprised 9–10 weekly teleconferencing group sessions. Participants and waitlist-controls completed pre- and post-program surveys. The primary outcomes were self-reported knowledge and confidence in assessing and managing complex patients relevant to each group. Linear mixed models were used to assess the group-by-time interaction, or change over time, as appropriate. RESULTS: Between July 2020 and June 2021, three series of the Adult Intellectual Disability Mental Health program, two series of the Adult Eating Disorders program, and two series of the General Mental Health program were delivered. Compared to waitlist-controls (n = 21), there were statistically significant improvements in self-reported knowledge and confidence for all topics amongst participants of the Adult Eating Disorders program (n = 44). In the Adult Intellectual Disability Mental Health program, there were significant improvements in self-reported knowledge and confidence amongst participants (n = 67) for most topics compared to controls (n = 21). There were no waitlist-controls for the General Mental Health program, but within-group analysis (n = 28) showed significant improvements in participants’ knowledge and confidence following program completion, compared to baseline. CONCLUSION: Project ECHO is a feasible and effective model to develop workforce capacity in managing complex psychiatric conditions.