Effectiveness of an LGBTQ+ E-Learning Module for Social Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Jason Schaub; Jolie R. Keemink; Willem J. Stander; Paul Montgomery

doi:10.1177/10497315231208199

Effectiveness of an LGBTQ+ E-Learning Module for Social Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Jason Schaub^*, Jolie R. Keemink, Willem J. Stander, Paul Montgomery

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an e-learning training module for improving children's social workers’ knowledge of, and attitudes toward, LGBTQ+ young people.

Methods: A pragmatic randomized, CONSORT-compliant controlled trial to compare an intervention group (N = 304) with a business-as-usual comparison group (N = 310). After attrition, the analysis included 188 (intervention) and 278 (comparison) participants. The main outcome measures were the Heteronormative Attitudes and Beliefs Scale and a perceived LGBTQ+ knowledge measure, controlling for several covariates.

Results: A significant effect of intervention on both outcome measures, using several rigorous analysis approaches and missing data imputation methods. Participants who undertook the training decreased their heteronormative attitudes and beliefs and increased their perceived LGBTQ+ knowledge compared to business as usual.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of an e-learning training intervention in improving knowledge of, and attitudes toward, LGBTQ+ young people. Implications for research, practice, and policy are outlined.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-14
Number of pages	14
Journal	Research on Social Work Practice
Early online date	23 Oct 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315231208199
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 23 Oct 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding:
The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Our work was funded by What Works for Children's Social Care. The views expressed here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of What Works for Children's Social Care or the Department for Education (England; grant number 1001929). We are most grateful to all the social workers who participated in this study, as well as our young advisor's committee and stakeholders for their input and feedback.

Keywords

LGBTQ
young people
social work
e-learning
randomized controlled trial

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SchaubJ2023EffectivenessFinal published version, 661 KBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

Cite this

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title = "Effectiveness of an LGBTQ+ E-Learning Module for Social Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial",

abstract = "Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an e-learning training module for improving children's social workers{\textquoteright} knowledge of, and attitudes toward, LGBTQ+ young people. Methods: A pragmatic randomized, CONSORT-compliant controlled trial to compare an intervention group (N = 304) with a business-as-usual comparison group (N = 310). After attrition, the analysis included 188 (intervention) and 278 (comparison) participants. The main outcome measures were the Heteronormative Attitudes and Beliefs Scale and a perceived LGBTQ+ knowledge measure, controlling for several covariates. Results: A significant effect of intervention on both outcome measures, using several rigorous analysis approaches and missing data imputation methods. Participants who undertook the training decreased their heteronormative attitudes and beliefs and increased their perceived LGBTQ+ knowledge compared to business as usual. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of an e-learning training intervention in improving knowledge of, and attitudes toward, LGBTQ+ young people. Implications for research, practice, and policy are outlined.",

keywords = "LGBTQ, young people, social work, e-learning, randomized controlled trial",

author = "Jason Schaub and Keemink, {Jolie R.} and Stander, {Willem J.} and Paul Montgomery",

note = "Funding: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Our work was funded by What Works for Children's Social Care. The views expressed here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of What Works for Children's Social Care or the Department for Education (England; grant number 1001929). We are most grateful to all the social workers who participated in this study, as well as our young advisor's committee and stakeholders for their input and feedback.",

year = "2023",

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doi = "10.1177/10497315231208199",

language = "English",

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journal = "Research on Social Work Practice",

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T1 - Effectiveness of an LGBTQ+ E-Learning Module for Social Workers

T2 - A Randomized Controlled Trial

AU - Schaub, Jason

AU - Keemink, Jolie R.

AU - Stander, Willem J.

AU - Montgomery, Paul

N1 - Funding: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Our work was funded by What Works for Children's Social Care. The views expressed here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of What Works for Children's Social Care or the Department for Education (England; grant number 1001929). We are most grateful to all the social workers who participated in this study, as well as our young advisor's committee and stakeholders for their input and feedback.

PY - 2023/10/23

Y1 - 2023/10/23

N2 - Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an e-learning training module for improving children's social workers’ knowledge of, and attitudes toward, LGBTQ+ young people. Methods: A pragmatic randomized, CONSORT-compliant controlled trial to compare an intervention group (N = 304) with a business-as-usual comparison group (N = 310). After attrition, the analysis included 188 (intervention) and 278 (comparison) participants. The main outcome measures were the Heteronormative Attitudes and Beliefs Scale and a perceived LGBTQ+ knowledge measure, controlling for several covariates. Results: A significant effect of intervention on both outcome measures, using several rigorous analysis approaches and missing data imputation methods. Participants who undertook the training decreased their heteronormative attitudes and beliefs and increased their perceived LGBTQ+ knowledge compared to business as usual. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of an e-learning training intervention in improving knowledge of, and attitudes toward, LGBTQ+ young people. Implications for research, practice, and policy are outlined.

AB - Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an e-learning training module for improving children's social workers’ knowledge of, and attitudes toward, LGBTQ+ young people. Methods: A pragmatic randomized, CONSORT-compliant controlled trial to compare an intervention group (N = 304) with a business-as-usual comparison group (N = 310). After attrition, the analysis included 188 (intervention) and 278 (comparison) participants. The main outcome measures were the Heteronormative Attitudes and Beliefs Scale and a perceived LGBTQ+ knowledge measure, controlling for several covariates. Results: A significant effect of intervention on both outcome measures, using several rigorous analysis approaches and missing data imputation methods. Participants who undertook the training decreased their heteronormative attitudes and beliefs and increased their perceived LGBTQ+ knowledge compared to business as usual. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of an e-learning training intervention in improving knowledge of, and attitudes toward, LGBTQ+ young people. Implications for research, practice, and policy are outlined.

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JO - Research on Social Work Practice

JF - Research on Social Work Practice

ER -

Effectiveness of an LGBTQ+ E-Learning Module for Social Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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