An internet-based problem-solving training to reduce strain in teachers

ISRCTN	ISRCTN15635876
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15635876
Secondary identifying numbers	N/A

Submission date: 05/06/2012
Registration date: 28/08/2012
Last edited: 03/06/2020

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Teachers are highly affected by strain-related health problems such as depression. Recent studies have shown the effectiveness of Internet-based problem-solving therapy for symptoms of depression and strain. This study aims to test the efficacy of an Internet-based problem-solving training, adapted to the specific situation of the teachers, when compared to a waiting-list control group.

Who can participate?
Teachers with a heightened level of strain, indicated by self-rated depressive symptoms.

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated into two groups. Participants in the intervention group take part in a five-week online problem-solving training program, consisting of one lesson per week including weekly assignments and feedback by trained online coaches. Participants in the wait-list control group will get access to the training 6 months later. Self-reported symptoms of depression, strain, worrying, problem-solving skills, self-efficacy and quality of life are assessed at four points (at the start of the study, just after the training, and 3 and 6 months after the training ends).

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may benefit from improvements in depression, strain, worrying, self-efficacy, problem solving skills and mental health in general. There are no known risks of participating in the study.

Where is the study run from?
Department of Mental Health, Leuphana University, Lueneburg, Germany.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in April 2012 and ended in December 2013.

Who is funding the study?
European Union.

Who is the main contact?
David Daniel Ebert
ebert@inkubator.leuphana.de

Study website

Contact information

Mr David Daniel Ebert
Scientific

University, Lueneburg
Volgershall 1
Lüneburg
21339
Germany

Phone	+49 (0)4131677 5197
Email	ebert@inkubator.leuphana.de

Study information

Study design	Prospective randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups
Primary study design	Interventional
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)	Other
Study type	Quality of life
Participant information sheet	Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific title	An internet-based problem-solving training to reduce strain in teachers: a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of a guided self-help problem-solving training
Study objectives	Internet-based problem-solving training is more effective in reducing depressive symptoms than a wait-list control group. On 11/02/2013 the target number of participants was changed from 180 to 152.
Ethics approval(s)	Local Ethical Committee, Department for Psychology, Phillips-University of Marburg, Germany, 12/03/2012, ref: AZ: 2012-06K
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Depressive symptoms
Intervention	The treatment group has access to an Internet-based training program that consists of five lessons (one per week). The intervention is based on an empirically evaluated online-based problem-solving intervention (van Straten et al., 2008; Warmerdam et al., 2008), adapted to the specific situation of teachers. The lessons include information and examples of how problems can be solved in a systematic way, how to handle unsolvable problems and how to improve well-being by boosting important things in their lives. Participants receive feedback to weekly assignments by trained online coaches. Participants in the wait-list control group will get access to the same training 6 months after baseline assessment.
Intervention type	Other
Primary outcome measure	Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) Baseline assessment: 1 week before allocation to treatment groups (enrollment is still ongoing; first participant were assessed for baseline on 9th April) Post-assessment: 7 weeks after allocation to treatment 3-months follow-up: 3 months after allocation to treatment 6-months follow-up: 6 months after allocation to treatment
Secondary outcome measures	1. Social Problem Solving Inventory (SPSI-R) 2. Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) 3. Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) 4. Self-efficacy Scale (SWE) 5. Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) 6. Short-Form Health Questionnaire (SF-12) Baseline Assessment: 1 week before allocation to treatment groups (enrollment is still ongoing; first participant was assessed for baseline on 9th April) Post-Assessment: 7 weeks after allocation to treatment 3-months follow-up: 3 months after allocation to treatment 6-months follow-up: 6 months after allocation to treatment
Overall study start date	15/04/2012
Completion date	01/12/2013

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Adult
Sex	Both
Target number of participants	152
Total final enrolment	150
Key inclusion criteria	Teachers with a heightened level of depressive symptoms [self-rated score higher than 16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)]
Key exclusion criteria	Participants with suicide ideation at time of recruitment [by a score higher than 1 on the suicide ideation question of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)]
Date of first enrolment	15/04/2012
Date of final enrolment	01/12/2013

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Germany

Study participating centre

University, Lueneburg

Lüneburg
21339
Germany

Sponsor information

Investment & Development Bank of Lower Saxony - NBank (Germany)
Government

[Investitions- und Förderbank Niedersachsen NBank]
Günther-Wagner-Allee 12 - 16
Hannover
30177
Germany

Email	info@nbank.de
Website	http://www.nbank.de/
"ROR"	https://ror.org/03h3mye18

Funders

Funder type

Government

European Union (EU)

No information available

State of Lower Saxony (Germany)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination plan	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Results article	results	01/11/2014	03/06/2020	Yes	No

Editorial Notes

03/06/2020: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The final enrolment number has been added from the reference.