Effectiveness of a brief depression training program to primary care personnel for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and depression in India.

Depression is highly prevalent among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), contributing to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Given the shortage of mental health professionals, task-sharing with primary care personnel (PCP) are essential for early identification and management of depression in primary care settings. To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief depression training program (BDTP) in enhancing PCPs' knowledge of depression management in T2DM. A 3-hour module-based BDTP was conducted at primary care centers in Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Bhubaneswar. Knowledge was assessed pre- and post-training (immediately) using multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and case vignettes. Forty-nine PCPs participated. Post-training scores significantly improved across all sites, irrespective of prior mental health training. BDTP is effective in improving PCPs' short-term knowledge. Ongoing training supervision and virtual skill-based training are recommended to sustain and translate knowledge into clinical practice.