EBQI Strategies for Women's Health

(EMPOWER Trial)

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Overseen ByMelissa M Farmer Coste, PhD MS
Age: Any Age
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests methods to improve healthcare services specifically for women Veterans in midlife. It focuses on using an EBQI Booster, a program that helps healthcare teams enhance their practices, with some sites receiving additional support through external facilitation. The goal is to ensure women Veterans can access and use the healthcare services they need. The trial recruits VA healthcare facilities committed to improving services for women Veterans. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to enhancing healthcare services for women Veterans.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial is recruiting VA sites, not individual patients, so there is no information about medication requirements for participants.

What prior data suggests that these strategies are safe for women Veterans?

Research has shown that the EBQI Booster is generally safe for participants. Previous studies found it improves women's healthcare without causing significant side effects. This treatment is well-tolerated and helps healthcare providers meet local needs.

For the EBQI Booster + External Facilitation, studies also indicate it is well-tolerated. This approach offers more support and training for healthcare providers to improve care, and no major safety concerns have emerged.

Both treatments aim to enhance healthcare services for women Veterans. So far, evidence of serious side effects is lacking, making them promising options for participants.12345

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the EBQI Booster strategies for women's health because they offer a fresh approach to enhancing healthcare quality improvement. Unlike traditional methods, which might rely heavily on static policies, the EBQI Booster is dynamic, delivered virtually to tailor its strategies to local needs. Additionally, the combination of the EBQI Booster with External Facilitation extends support over 12 months, ensuring sustained engagement and adaptability to real-world challenges. This trial aims to discover how these interactive and sustained strategies can improve outcomes more effectively than existing methods.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for women's health?

Research has shown that the Evidence-Based Quality Improvement (EBQI) Booster, one of the treatments in this trial, holds promise for improving patient health. Studies have found that EBQI can enhance healthcare, though the level of improvement may vary. Another study found that EBQI also helps reduce burnout among healthcare staff, potentially leading to better patient care.

In this trial, some participants will receive the EBQI Booster alone, while others will receive it combined with External Facilitation. Early results suggest that this combination further improves the use of proven healthcare practices. This approach aims to address health disparities among women veterans by enhancing and maintaining quality care in VA facilities. Initial data indicates that adding External Facilitation facilitates the effective implementation of these practices.12346

Who Is on the Research Team?

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Erin P Finley, PhD MPH

Principal Investigator

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA

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Melissa M Farmer Coste, PhD MS

Principal Investigator

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda, CA

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Alison B Hamilton, PhD MPH

Principal Investigator

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA

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Bevanne A Bean-Mayberry, MD MHS

Principal Investigator

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is not for individual patients but for VA facilities that support women Veterans' health services. Facilities must have leadership backing and meet certain preconditions to participate in the study, which focuses on midlife women Veterans.

Inclusion Criteria

This study is for VA sites, not for me individually.
My study site has the required approvals to participate in the study.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Implementation

Implementation of three evidence-based practices (EBPs) including Trauma-Informed Care, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Symptoms of Menopause, and Women's MOVE! program

12 months
Regular virtual sessions and facilitation meetings

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for engagement and effectiveness of the implemented EBPs

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • EBQI Booster
  • EBQI Booster + External Facilitation

Trial Overview

The EMPOWER QUERI 3.0 Program is testing two strategies (EBQI Booster and EBQI Booster + External Facilitation) across VA facilities to improve and sustain evidence-based practices for the health of midlife women Veterans.

How Is the Trial Designed?

2

Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: EBQI Booster + External Facilitation (EBQI/B+EF)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: EBQI Booster (EBQI/B)Active Control1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,691
Recruited
3,759,000+

Citations

EBQI Strategies for Women's Health (EMPOWER Trial)

The EMPOWER QUERI 3.0 Program is a cluster randomized type 3 hybrid implementation-effectiveness trial testing two strategies designed to support implementation ...

Long-term impact of evidence-based quality improvement for ...

The overall response rates were 63% for baseline, and 48% for both follow-up waves. Response rates for professionals in EBQI practices were the ...

Evidence-Based Quality Improvement (EBQI) in the pre ...

Effectiveness estimates were positive but varied in size in ten studies that provided data on patient health outcomes. Conclusions EBQI is a promising ...

a qualitative case study of contextual conditions and adaptations

The EMPOWER 2.0 QUERI was launched as a hybrid type 3 effectiveness-implementation trial to address disparities in women veterans' health ...

Long-term impact of evidence-based quality improvement ...

We examined whether EBQI [24] was effective in reducing. PCP/staff burnout [33, 34] or increasing satisfaction dur- ing national transformation to the Veterans ...

July 2025

An estimated 6.9 million women in the United States have minimal access to health care and often seek care in emergency departments. A total of 33% of maternal ...