Effects of smartphone-based stress management on improving work engagement among nurses in Vietnam: a secondary analysis of a three-arm randomized controlled trial (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Work engagement is important for employee’s well-being and work performance. However, no intervention study has investigated the effect of eMental Health intervention on work engagement among workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to examine the effects of the newly developed smartphone-based stress management program (“ABC stress management”) on improving work engagement among hospital nurses in Vietnam, a LMIC. METHODS Full-time nurses (N= 949) were randomly assigned to two types of intervention groups and a control group. A 6-week, 6-lesson program offering basic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-based stress management skills); provided in free-choice (Program A) and fixed order (Program B). Work engagement was assessed at baseline, 3- and 7-month follow-ups in each of the three groups. RESULTS Program B showed a significant intervention effect on improving work engagement at 3-month follow-up (p = 0.049) with a small effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.16). Neither program achieved effectiveness at a 7-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrated that a smartphone-based stress management program was effective in improving work engagement in nurses in Vietnam, but the effect was small and temporary. This smartphone-based low-cost intervention may improve work engagement for workers in LMICs. CLINICALTRIAL UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) UMIN000033139.

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Efficacy of the Digital Therapeutic Mobile App BioBase to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Well-Being Among University Students: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.17767 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sonia Ponzo ◽

Davide Morelli ◽

Jamie M Kawadler ◽

Nicola Rose Hemmings ◽

Geoffrey Bird ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Well Being ◽

Mobile App ◽

Control Group ◽

Full Time ◽

Digital Version ◽

Sustained Effects ◽

Mental Well Being

BACKGROUND University students in the United Kingdom are experiencing increasing levels of anxiety. A program designed to increase awareness of one’s present levels of well-being and suggest personalized health behaviors may reduce anxiety and improve mental well-being in students. The efficacy of a digital version of such a program, providing biofeedback and therapeutic content based on personalized well-being metrics, is reported here. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to test the efficacy and sustained effects of using a mobile app (BioBase) and paired wearable device (BioBeam), compared with a waitlist control group, on anxiety and well-being in university students with elevated levels of anxiety and stress. METHODS The study employed a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with assessments at baseline, 2 weeks, postintervention (4 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks). Participants were eligible if they were current full-time undergraduate students and (1) at least 18 years of age, (2) scored >14 points on the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21) stress subscale or >7 points on the DASS-21 anxiety subscale, (3) owned an iOS mobile phone, (4) did not have any previous psychiatric or neurological conditions, (6) were not pregnant at the time of testing, and (7) were able to read and understand English. Participants were encouraged to use BioBase daily and complete at least one course of therapeutic content. A <i>P</i> value ≤.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS We found that a 4-week intervention with the BioBase program significantly reduced anxiety and increased perceived well-being, with sustained effects at a 2-week follow-up. Furthermore, a significant reduction in depression levels was found following the 4-week usage of BioBase. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the efficacy of a biofeedback digital intervention in reducing self-reported anxiety and increasing perceived well-being in UK university students. Results suggest that digital mental health interventions could constitute a novel approach to treat stress and anxiety in students, which could be combined or integrated with existing therapeutic pathways. CLINICALTRIAL Open Science Framework (OSF.io) 2zd45; https://osf.io/2zd45/

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The Comparison of the Effects of a Didactic Stress Management Program and Group Counselling on the Coping Strategies of School Counsellors

Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling ◽

10.1375/ajgc.19.1.71 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 71-87

Author(s):

Aysel Esen Coban ◽

Zeynep Hamamci

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Stress Management ◽

Management Program ◽

Post Treatment ◽

Control Group ◽

Group Counselling ◽

Management Group ◽

School Counsellors ◽

Stress Management Program

AbstractThe aim of this study was to compare the effects of a didactic stress management program, group counselling, and a control group on school counsellors' stress coping strategies. Thirty-four school counsellors were randomly assigned to either a didactic stress management group, group counselling, or a control group. The didactic stress management group and the group counselling for stress management group were conducted concurrently for 10 consecutive weeks. A control group received no treatment. The Ways of Coping Inventory was administered to all participants at three different stages: pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 6-month follow-up. The results indicated that both the didactic stress management group and the group counselling for stress management group showed a significant reduction in the use of helpless coping strategies and a significant increase in the optimistic coping strategies at post-treatment. At follow-up, there were obvious group differences in the use of helpless coping strategies. Only those who were treated using group counselling exhibited a decrease in helpless coping strategies at the follow-up assessment.

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Stress Management for Atopic Dermatitis

Behaviour Change ◽

10.1375/bech.16.4.226 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 226-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Suzanne Habib ◽

Shirley Morrissey

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Social Anxiety ◽

Stress Management ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Management Program ◽

Waiting List ◽

Adjunctive Treatment ◽

Control Group ◽

Stress Management Program

AbstractAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, debilitating skin disorder that accounts for up to 20% of dermatological diagnoses. A 6-week psychoeducational stress management program was developed, implemented, and evaluated as an adjunctive treatment for AD. The participants (n = 17) were randomly assigned to a treatment or waiting-list control group. Participants in both the intervention and waiting-list control groups were assessed for dermatitis severity by a blind rater both pre and posttreatment and at a follow-up conducted 8 weeks after the conclusion of the program. At posttest the intervention group had significantly reduced pruritus and global severity of atopic dermatitis, and reduced levels of social anxiety and private self-consciousness. At an 8-week follow-up, pruritus was entirely absent and global severity was continuing to decrease, as were levels of social anxiety and private self-consciousness. The psychoeducational stress-management program provided a short effective treatment that resulted in reduction of symptoms and provided long-term management strategies to sufferers of atopic dermatitis.

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Efficacy of the Digital Therapeutic Mobile App BioBase to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Well-Being Among University Students: Randomized Controlled Trial

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/17767 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. e17767 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sonia Ponzo ◽

Davide Morelli ◽

Jamie M Kawadler ◽

Nicola Rose Hemmings ◽

Geoffrey Bird ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Well Being ◽

Mobile App ◽

Control Group ◽

Full Time ◽

Digital Version ◽

Sustained Effects ◽

Mental Well Being

Background University students in the United Kingdom are experiencing increasing levels of anxiety. A program designed to increase awareness of one’s present levels of well-being and suggest personalized health behaviors may reduce anxiety and improve mental well-being in students. The efficacy of a digital version of such a program, providing biofeedback and therapeutic content based on personalized well-being metrics, is reported here. Objective The aim of this study was to test the efficacy and sustained effects of using a mobile app (BioBase) and paired wearable device (BioBeam), compared with a waitlist control group, on anxiety and well-being in university students with elevated levels of anxiety and stress. Methods The study employed a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with assessments at baseline, 2 weeks, postintervention (4 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks). Participants were eligible if they were current full-time undergraduate students and (1) at least 18 years of age, (2) scored >14 points on the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21) stress subscale or >7 points on the DASS-21 anxiety subscale, (3) owned an iOS mobile phone, (4) did not have any previous psychiatric or neurological conditions, (6) were not pregnant at the time of testing, and (7) were able to read and understand English. Participants were encouraged to use BioBase daily and complete at least one course of therapeutic content. A P value ≤.05 was considered statistically significant. Results We found that a 4-week intervention with the BioBase program significantly reduced anxiety and increased perceived well-being, with sustained effects at a 2-week follow-up. Furthermore, a significant reduction in depression levels was found following the 4-week usage of BioBase. Conclusions This study shows the efficacy of a biofeedback digital intervention in reducing self-reported anxiety and increasing perceived well-being in UK university students. Results suggest that digital mental health interventions could constitute a novel approach to treat stress and anxiety in students, which could be combined or integrated with existing therapeutic pathways. Trial Registration Open Science Framework (OSF.io) 2zd45; https://osf.io/2zd45/

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Increasing engagement with an occupational digital stress management program through the use of an online facilitated discussion group: Results of a pilot randomised controlled trial

Internet Interventions ◽

10.1016/j.invent.2017.08.001 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Stephany Carolan ◽

Peter R. Harris ◽

Kathryn Greenwood ◽

Kate Cavanagh

Keyword(s):

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Stress Management ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Discussion Group ◽

Management Program ◽

Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Stress Management Program ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Digital Stress

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Randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a web-based stress management program among community college students

Anxiety Stress & Coping ◽

10.1080/10615806.2014.987666 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 576-586 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Patricia Frazier ◽

Liza Meredith ◽

Christiaan Greer ◽

Jacob A. Paulsen ◽

Kelli Howard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Community College ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Community College Students ◽

Stress Management ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Management Program ◽

Web Based ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Stress Management Program

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Long-Term Effectiveness of a Stress Management Intervention at Work: A 9-Year Follow-Up Study Based on a Randomized Wait-List Controlled Trial in Male Managers

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2017/2853813 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jian Li ◽

Natalie Riedel ◽

Amira Barrech ◽

Raphael M. Herr ◽

Birgit Aust ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Stress Management ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

External Control ◽

Control Group ◽

Wait List ◽

Eri Model

Objective. Short- and medium-term effectiveness (up to 3 years) of individual level stress management interventions (SMI) at work were demonstrated, yet long-term effectiveness remains unexplored. We therefore aimed to address this research gap. Methods. 94 male middle managers participated in a randomized wait-list controlled trial between 2006 and 2008 and in a post-trial-follow-up survey in 2015. During the first two years, all received an 18-hour psychotherapeutic SMI intervention which was based on the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) model: tackling stressor on mismatch between effort and reward and promoting recovery on overcommitment. Work stress (i.e., ERI indicators) was the primary outcome, and the secondary outcome was depressive symptoms. The long-term effectiveness of the SMI was examined by mixed modeling, using an external control group (n=94). Results. Effort and reward were substantially improved with significant intervention ⁎ time interaction effects (p<0.001) compared to the external control group; effects on overcommitment and depressive symptoms were also significant (p<0.05 and p<0.01, resp.), though their trajectories in the intervention group were less sustainable. Conclusions. The effectiveness of this psychotherapeutic SMI at work based on the ERI model was observed over a 9-year period, particularly on the effort-reward ratio.

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Web-based stress management for newly diagnosed cancer patients (STREAM): A randomized, wait-list controlled intervention study.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2017.35.18_suppl.lba10002 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (18_suppl) ◽

pp. LBA10002-LBA10002 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Viviane Hess ◽

Astrid Grossert ◽

Judith Alder ◽

Sandra Scherer ◽

Barbara Handschin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Management ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Management Program ◽

Control Group ◽

Wait List ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Web Based ◽

Minimal Contact

LBA10002 Background: Being diagnosed with cancer causes major distress, yet the majority of newly diagnosed cancer patients (pts) lack psychological support. Internet interventions overcome many barriers for seeking support. We assess efficacy and feasibility of a web-based minimal-contact stress management intervention (STREAM) for newly diagnosed cancer pts. Methods: In a prospective, wait-list controlled trial, newly diagnosed cancer pts were randomized within 12 weeks of starting anti-cancer treatment to an immediate or delayed (control group) 8-week, web-based intervention. The intervention consisted of 8 modules with weekly written feedback by a psychologist (“minimal-contact”) based on well-established stress management manuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy in terms of improvement in QoL (FACIT-F), decrease in distress (DT), anxiety/depression (HADS), as compared to pts in the wait-list group. 120 pts were needed to show (80% power, 2-sided α of 0.05) a clinically meaningful difference of ≥ 9 in FACT score after the immediate intervention (week 8 = T2). Results: 225 pts applied online. 128 pts were randomized. Median age was 52 (22-77)y. 108 (84%) were female. The majority of pts were treated in the curative setting (117pts; 91%), with chemotherapy (74 pts; 58%), for breast cancer (91pts; 71%). Self-reported distress at baseline ( = stratification factor) was above 4 on a 10-point scale (DT) with 96 pts (75%). At T2, QoL (FACIT-F) was sign. increased (p = 0.044; ANCOVA adjusted for baseline-distress) and distress sign. lowered (p = 0.032) in the intervention group as compared to the wait-list control. Median score (lower/upper quartile) for FACIT-F at baseline/T2 was 101.0(80.8/120)/119.0(98.0/132) and 108.3(87.8/124.0) /109.5(97.2/121.0); of DT at baseline/T2 was 6(5/8)/4(3/6) and 6(5/8)/6(4/7) for the intervention and control group, respectively. Decrease in HADS was not sign. different between the groups (p = 0.273). Conclusions: With STREAM, we open the field of minimal-contact online interventions to newly diagnosed cancer pts and show that an 8-week web-based stress management program is feasible and effective in improving QoL and distress. Clinical trial information: NCT02289014.

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