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Enhanced Measurement-Based Care Effectiveness for Depression (EMBED) Study

Not Applicable
Conditions
Major Depressive Disorder
Interventions
Other: eMBC
Other: standard MBC
Registration Number
NCT05527951
Lead Sponsor
Shanghai Mental Health Center
Brief Summary

Measurement-based care (MBC) is an evidence-based practice that incorporates routine outcome assessment using validated rating scales to guide collaborative clinical decision-making. Although MBC results in improved outcomes for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), there are barriers to its broad implementation in clinical settings. The use of "enhanced" MBC (eMBC), with mobile apps that allow patients to track outcomes and engage in self-management via WeChat, may address some of these barriers. The investigators hypothesize that implementation with eMBC using WeChat will be superior to standard MBC implementation using paper-pencil assessments at the clinic, for both implementation and clinical outcomes.

Detailed Description

The investigators present a trial protocol for a 2-arm cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a hybrid implementation-effectiveness design comparing standard MBC implementation versus eMBC implementation with 6-month follow up in 12 mental health centers in Shanghai, China. The eMBC implementation uses a WeChat mini-program that includes outcome tracking using brief questionnaires and self-management lessons supplemented with support by a lay coach via WeChat.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1200
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Men or women aged 18-65 years;
  2. Participants were diagnosed of unipolar depressive disorder by the treating physician based on accepted diagnostic criteria (e.g., CCMD-3, DSM-IV, DSM-5, ICD-10);
  3. Participants are expected to have a smartphone device available and be proficient in using a smartphone;
  4. Participants should have a junior high school education or above, have sufficient audio-visual skills, be able to fully understand the research content and have the legal ability to sign informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Presence of obvious violent aggressive behavior or tendencies;
  2. Participants who are unstable during onset episodes and cannot cooperate in completing the study content;
  3. Serious suicidal tendencies;
  4. Inability to carry out effective verbal communication;
  5. No smartphone;
  6. Other circumstances that prevented cooperation or completion of the study.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Enhanced MBC Implementation(eMBC)eMBCThe eMBC implementation arm use our WeChat Easy to Recover from Depression Mini-Program, which consists of mood tracking and lay-coached self-management.
Standard MBC Implementationstandard MBCThe standard MBC implementation arm use paper and pencil questionnaires.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proportion of patients with a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scoreup to 6 months

Proportion of patients with a PHQ-9 score entered in the clinical record.

Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)up to 6 months

To evaluate the severity of depressive symptoms by patients. Remission: total score ≤ 4.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The Sheehan disability scale (SDS)up to 6 months

To evaluate the functional impairment, including work/study, daily life and family responsibility. The score of each subscale ranged from 0 to 10 which means from no impairment to loss of function.

Quality of Life scale (QOL-6)up to 6 months

To evaluate the quality of life in patients with MDD. The higher the total score, the better the quality of life.

EuroQoL 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D)up to 6 months

To evaluate the quality of life in patients with MDD. The higher the total score, the better the quality of life.

Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9) change scoresup to 6 months

The changes in PHQ-9 scores and depression categories were determined by subtracting the final PHQ-9 score from the initial PHQ-9 score. Therefore, a negative change in PHQ-9 represents a lessening of depression symptoms while a positive change in PHQ-9 represents an increase in depression symptoms.

Scale To Assess Therapeutic Relationships in Community Mental Health Care (STAR-P)up to 6 months

To assess the therapeutic relationship between patients and clinicians in community mental health care settings.It contains 12 items and each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with answers ranging from 0 to 4.

Proportion of patients who accessed the WeChat Easy to Recover from Depression Mini-Program at least onceup to 6 months

Proportion of patients who accessed the WeChat Easy to Recover from Depression Mini-Program at least once.

System Usability Scaleup to 6 months

To evaluate patient satisfaction by qualitative interviews.Participants are asked to score 10 items with one of five responses that range from Strongly Agree to Strongly disagree.

Health economic assessment (HEA)up to 6 months

To evaluate the health services utilization. Economic outcomes will include health service utilization data (both mental health- and non-mental health-related) from the HEA and from available EMR/chart records, including health provider encounters, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, diagnostic tests, and prescriptions.

Patient Adherence Questionnaire(PAQ)up to 6 months

To evaluate the medication adherence.The PAQ is a two item measure, with the first question assessing level of adherence (quantified as number of days in the past week in which medication was not taken) and item 2 assesses reasons for non-adherence.

Proportion of patients who completed at least 4 of 6 lessons in Come Back mini-programup to 6 months

Proportion of patients who completed at least 4 of 6 lessons in the Come Back mini-program.Come Back mini-program is a part of the WeChat Easy to Recover from Depression Mini-Program,which consists of 6 weekly lessons based on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) principles.

Evidence Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS)up to 6 months

To evaluate clinician satisfaction by qualitative interviews.Participants are asked to score 15 items with one of five responses that range from Not at All to To a Very Great Extent.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Shanghai Mental Health Center

🇨🇳

Shanghai, Shanghai, China

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