Can an interactive e-learning training package improve the understanding of personality disorder within mental health professionals?

Lamph, G; Sampson, M; Smith, D; Williamson, G; Guyers, M

Abstract

Purpose

Personality disorder is reported to elicit strong emotional responses and negative attitudes in mental health staff (Bodner et al, 2015). This paper provides an overview of the design and development of a co-produced e-learning training package for personality disorder awareness and an evaluation of its effectiveness. This study was carried out to explore if e-learning is an effective mode of training delivery for raising personality disorder awareness.

Design/methodology/approach

The E-learning was uniquely developed by subject matter experts working in co-production with people with lived experience. Self-reported measures were completed at 3 separate intervals to evaluate the effectiveness of the training: at pre, post and 3 month follow up. Quantitative data was collected via these questionnaires.

Findings

The results from this evaluation show that the e-learning is an effective mode of delivery for raising the awareness of personality disorder amongst mental health professionals, achieving similar outcomes to those reported following face to face training.

Research limitations/implications

Attrition at follow up phase was high which was consistent with other similar studies. The evaluation was led by the lead contributors and in the geographical area of its development. The study was relatively small and participants self-selecting therefore findings should be treated with caution.

Practical implications

E-learning can provide flexible training to compliment and act as an alternative to face to face personality disorder training. E-learning may provide an alternative refresher course to KUF or other face to face methods. Co-produced training can be mirrored within an e-learning programme, careful planning to ensure the service user voice is heard and that their lived experience is embraced is required.

Originality/value

This is the first evaluation of a co-produced e-learning only personality disorder awareness training. It is also the first paper to carry out a review of the published evaluations of personality awareness training in the UK. With comparisons explored across the studies.

Citation

Lamph, G., Sampson, M., Smith, D., Williamson, G., & Guyers, M. (2018). Can an interactive e-learning training package improve the understanding of personality disorder within mental health professionals?. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 13(2), 124-134. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmhtep-03-2017-0023

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 24, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jan 26, 2018
• Publication Date: Jan 26, 2018
• Deposit Date: Feb 5, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 5, 2018
• Journal: The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice
• Print ISSN: 1755-6228
• Publisher: Emerald
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 124-134
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/jmhtep-03-2017-0023
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jmhtep-03-2017-0023
• Related Public URLs: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/loi/jmhtep
• Additional Information: Access Information : This article is © Emerald Group Publishing and the author's accepted manuscript appears here (VoR available at http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/JMHTEP-03-2017-0023). Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission of Emerald Group Publishing Limited.