Effectiveness of a stepped-care programme of internet-based psychological interventions for healthcare workers with psychological distress: Study protocol for the RESPOND healthcare workers randomised controlled trial. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mediavilla, Roberto; McGreevy, Kerry R; Felez-Nobrega, Mireia; Monistrol-Mula, Anna; Bravo-Ortiz, María-Fe; Bayón, Carmen; Rodríguez-Vega, Beatriz; Nicaise, Pablo; Delaire, Audrey; Sijbrandij, Marit; Witteveen, Anke B.; Purgato, Marianna; Barbui, Corrado; Tedeschi, Federico; Melchior, Maria; van der Waerden, Judith; McDaid, David; Park, A-La; Kalisch, Raffael; Petri-Romão, Papoula; Underhill, James; Bryant, Richard A.; Haro, Josep Maria; Ayuso-Mateos, José Luis
• Is Part Of: Digital health. Volume 8(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: MeSH terms -- coronavirus disease 2019 -- anxiety -- depression -- adjustment disorders -- psychological distress -- resilience -- psychological -- psychosocial intervention -- internet-based intervention -- healthcare facilities -- workforce and services -- analysis -- cost; Medical care -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Medical informatics -- Periodicals; 362.10285
• DOI: 10.1177/20552076221129084
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-2076

Abstract

Background and aims: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has challenged health services worldwide, with a worsening of healthcare workers' mental health within initial pandemic hotspots. In early 2022, the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly around the world. This study explores the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a stepped-care programme of scalable, internet-based psychological interventions for distressed health workers on self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms. Methods: We present the study protocol for a multicentre (two sites), parallel-group (1:1 allocation ratio), analyst-blinded, superiority, randomised controlled trial. Healthcare workers with psychological distress will be allocated either to care as usual only or to care as usual plus a stepped-care programme that includes two scalable psychological interventions developed by the World Health Organization: A guided self-help stress management guide (Doing What Matters in Times of Stress) and a five-session cognitive behavioural intervention (Problem Management Plus). All participants will receive a single-session emotional support intervention, namely psychological first aid. We will include 212 participants. An intention-to-treat analysis using linear mixed models will be conducted to explore the programme's effect on anxiety and depression symptoms, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire – Anxiety and Depression Scale summary score at 21 weeks from baseline. Secondary outcomes include post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, resilience, quality of life, cost impact and cost-effectiveness. Conclusions: This study is the first randomised trial that combines two World Health Organization psychological interventions tailored for health workers into one stepped-care programme. Results will inform occupational and mental health prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies. Registration details: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04980326.