ISRCTN - ISRCTN15635876: An internet-based problem-solving training to reduce strain in teachers

Plain English Summary

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

Trial website

http://www.problemloesen-online.de

Contact information

Type

Scientific

Primary contact

Mr David Daniel Ebert

ORCID ID

Contact details

University
Lueneburg
Volgershall 1
Lüneburg
21339
Germany
+49 (0)4131677 5197
ebert@inkubator.leuphana.de

Additional identifiers

EudraCT number

ClinicalTrials.gov number

Protocol/serial number

N/A

Study information

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

Acronym

Study hypothesis

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

Local Ethical Committee, Department for Psychology, Phillips-University of Marburg, Germany, 12/03/2012, ref: AZ: 2012-06K

Study design

Prospective randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups

Primary study design

Interventional

Secondary study design

Randomised controlled trial

Trial setting

Other

Trial type

Quality of life

Patient information sheet

Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet

Condition

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

Phase

Not Applicable

Drug names

Primary outcome measures

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 trial start date

15/04/2012

Overall trial end date

01/12/2013

Reason abandoned

Eligibility

Participant 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)]

Participant type

Patient

Age group

Adult

Gender

Both

Target number of participants

152

Participant 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)]

Recruitment start date

15/04/2012

Recruitment end date

01/12/2013

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Germany

Trial participating centre

University, Lueneburg
Lüneburg
21339
Germany

Sponsor information

Organisation

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

Sponsor details

[Investitions- und Förderbank Niedersachsen NBank]
Günther-Wagner-Allee 12 - 16
Hannover
30177
Germany
info@nbank.de