Plain English Summary
Background and study aims:
Stress is very common and related to death and many different health conditions such as increased risk for coronary heart diseases, depression, and anxiety. Prolonged stress often causes symptoms such as fatigue, migraine, worries, lower back pain, pain in arms and shoulders that can have a negative effect on individuals and society (e.g. increased work absenteeism).
Stress management methods are known to reduce levels of stress and, as a result improve psychological and physical health. Personal counselling has a limited capacity to provide stress management, but easily accessible stress management methods may be more effective for larger numbers of people.
The aim of this project is to test the effects of a web-based stress management system ('NewMe Stresse Mindre').
Who can participate?
Anyone over 18 years old, who was invited via social media, and was able to provide a valid e-mail address.
What does the study involve?
The participants were randomly allocated to two groups. One group received the web-based system and the other group received no treatment. The web-based system consisted of 13 sessions in total and lasts for about a month. In addition, participants had to fill in web-based questionnaires at 1, 2, and 6 months after starting the study. The participants in the no treatment group were given access to the web-based system after the final data was collected.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may have experienced decreases in their stress levels and learned techniques and exercises that they can apply as preventive efforts or during stressful life events any time later. There were no associated or expected risks of participating.
Where is the study run from?
University of Oslo in collaboration with Changetech AS.
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in mid 2011 and data collection was ended in late 2011
Who is funding the study?
Research Council of Norway
Who is the main contact?
Mr Filip Drozd
fd@changetech.no
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Mr Filip Drozd
ORCID ID
Contact details
Sletta 16
Askim
1807
Norway
+4797516188
filipdrozd@gmail.com
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
A fully automated and web-based intervention for stress management: a randomized controlled trial
Acronym
Study hypothesis
1. The web-based stress management intervention is more effective in reducing levels of stress than the waitlist control group.
2. The effect of the stress management intervention is mediated through mindfulness and decisional procrastination.
3. The effects on levels of stress are not moderated by age, gender or educational levels.
Ethics approval
Norwegian Social Science Data Services, 13 May 2011, ref: 26816
Study design
A two-armed randomized controlled trial where the experimental group receives the web-based stress management program and the control group receives no treatment (i.e. a waitlist).
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Participants from the normal population with a perceived need for stress management
Intervention
NewMe Stresse Mindre ('NewMe Less Stress') is a fully automated and web-based intervention. It consists of 13 sessions and lasts for about one month. There are three sessions per week. So every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, users receive an email with a link to that particular sessions content. Each session is structured in two sections. The first section is psychoeducational and addresses a specific topic related to stress (e.g. procrastination or worries). The second section has different psychological techniques and exercises for dealing with stress. These techniques and exercises are related to the specific topic presented in the psychoeducational section. Furthermore, home assignments are given to do in-between sessions. NewMe Stresse Mindre takes on an ecclectic approach to stress management and applies information, techniques and exercises previously documented to be effective for stress reduction. This includes information, techniques and exercises from positive psychology, metacognitive therapy, and mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioural therapy. The control group (i.e. waitlist) did not receive any other treatment. They were, however, told that they would be given access to NewMe Stresse Mindre once the final data were collected approx. 6 months after study inclusion.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
All patients were surveyed at baseline, 1, 2, and 6 months post-intervention enrollment:
Depression Anxiety Stress-Stress sub-scale (DASS-S; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995)
Secondary outcome measures
1. Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS; Brown & Ryan, 2003)
2. Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire-Procrastination sub-scale (MDMQ-P; Mann, Burnett, Radford, & Ford, 1997).
Overall trial start date
01/05/2011
Overall trial end date
01/05/2016
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
All participants had to provide a valid e-mail address and be >= 18 years
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
It was estimated that we needed approx. 235 participants in total
Participant exclusion criteria
Does not meet inclusion criteria
Recruitment start date
01/05/2011
Recruitment end date
01/05/2016
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Norway
Trial participating centre
Sletta 16
Askim
1807
Norway
Sponsor information
Organisation
Research Council of Norway (Norway)
Sponsor details
P. O. Box 2700
St. Hanshaugen
Oslo
0131
Norway
Sponsor type
Research council
Website
Funders
Funder type
Research council
Funder name
Research Council of Norway ref: 187979 (Norway)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
1. 2013 results in http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23607962
Publication citations
-
Results
Drozd F, Raeder S, Kraft P, Bjørkli CA, Multilevel growth curve analyses of treatment effects of a Web-based intervention for stress reduction: randomized controlled trial., J. Med. Internet Res., 2013, 15, 4, e84, doi: 10.2196/jmir.2570.