Bridging the Adherence Gap in Internet Interventions: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol
- Conditions
- Job StressAdherence, Treatment
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Adherence self-efficacy-enhancing exerciseBehavioral: Med-Stress Student
- Registration Number
- NCT05881161
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw
- Brief Summary
Low adherence in self-guided internet interventions might lead to worse outcomes. This randomized controlled trial aims to test whether adherence can be improved if self-efficacy regarding adherence to internet interventions is boosted before the intervention starts. It is expected that enhancing this specific type of self-efficacy will increase people's adherence and help them fully benefit from the intervention, namely experience lower job stress and higher work engagement.
- Detailed Description
Low adherence can lead to poor outcomes in self-guided (i.e., self-administered) internet interventions that is psychological programs designed to improve mental health. One modifiable personal factor that may improve adherence is context-specific self-efficacy. In this two-arm randomized controlled trial, participants (medical students, N = 720) will undergo an internet intervention called Med-Stress Student designed to enhance resources such as self-efficacy to cope with stress and perceived social support. In the experimental group, Med-Stress Student will be preceded by an exercise designed to boost self-efficacy to adhere to this internet intervention. In the control condition, participants will only access Med-Stress Student. Conditions will be compared on adherence as well as on the intervention outcomes (i.e., job stress and work engagement) at posttest, and at six-month, and one-year follow-ups.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- NOT_YET_RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 952
- must be at least 18 years old
- must be a medical student or intern who already has direct contact with patients
There are no criteria for exclusion.
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Adherence self-efficacy-enhancing exercise followed by internet intervention (Med-Stress Student) Adherence self-efficacy-enhancing exercise - Adherence self-efficacy-enhancing exercise followed by internet intervention (Med-Stress Student) Med-Stress Student - Internet intervention (Med-Stress Student) Med-Stress Student -
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Adherence Change from baseline: 4 weeks (posttest) Objective adherence will be based on quantifiable metrics, specifically the absolute number and percentage of completed exercises within the program. Subjective adherence will be evaluated with the following question that participants will respond to after each weekly set of exercises: "In your opinion, how accurately have you completed all tasks: have you followed the instructions, reflected on the questions, and responded to them exhaustively?".
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Work Engagement (Utrecht Work Engagement Scale; UWES-9) Change from baseline: 4 weeks (posttest) A 9-item scale will be used to assess work engagement. The response range varies between 0 (never) to 6 (always), with a higher total score indicating a higher work engagement.
Job Stress (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS-4) Change from baseline: 6-month follow-up The brief version of the scale consists of four items, rated on a scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often). It will be applied to measure job stress, with a higher total score indicating a heightened level of stress perception. The questionnaire's instructions have been modified to align with the occupational context.