A Brief Intervention to Increase Uptake and Adherence of an Internet-Based Program for Depression and Anxiety (Enhancing Engagement With Psychosocial Interventions): Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Batterham Philip J , Calear Alison L , Sunderland Matthew , Kay-Lambkin Frances , Farrer Louise M , Christensen Helen , Gulliver Amelia 
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUND

Psychosocial, self-guided, internet-based programs are effective in treating depression and anxiety. However, the community uptake of these programs is poor. Recent approaches to increasing engagement (defined as both uptake and adherence) in internet-based programs include brief engagement facilitation interventions (EFIs). However, these programs require evaluation to assess their efficacy.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this hybrid implementation effectiveness trial are to examine the effects of a brief internet-based EFI presented before an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy self-help program (<i>myCompass 2</i>) in improving engagement (uptake and adherence) with that program (primary aim), assess the relative efficacy of the <i>myCompass 2</i> program, and determine whether greater engagement was associated with improved efficacy (greater reduction in depression or anxiety symptoms) relative to the control (secondary aim).

METHODS

A 3-arm randomized controlled trial (N=849; recruited via social media) assessed the independent efficacy of the EFI and <i>myCompass 2</i>. The <i>myCompass 2</i> program was delivered with or without the EFI; both conditions were compared with an attention control condition. The EFI comprised brief (5 minutes), tailored audio-visual content on a series of click-through linear webpages.

RESULTS

Uptake was high in all groups; 82.8% (703/849) of participants clicked through the intervention following the pretest survey. However, the difference in uptake between the EFI + <i>myCompass 2</i> condition (234/280, 83.6%) and the <i>myCompass 2</i> alone condition (222/285, 77.9%) was not significant (n=565; <i>χ</i><sup>2</sup><sub>1</sub>=29.2; <i>P=</i>.09). In addition, there was no significant difference in the proportion of participants who started any number of modules (1-14 modules) versus those who started none between the EFI + <i>myCompass 2</i> (214/565, 37.9%) and the <i>myCompass 2</i> alone (210/565, 37.2%) conditions (n=565; <i>χ</i><sup>2</sup><sub>1</sub><0.1; <i>P=</i>.87). Finally, there was no significant difference between the EFI + <i>myCompass 2</i> and the <i>myCompass 2</i> alone conditions in the number of modules started (<i>U</i>=39366.50; <i>z</i>=−0.32; <i>P=</i>.75) or completed (<i>U</i>=39494.0; <i>z</i>=−0.29; <i>P=</i>.77). The <i>myCompass 2</i> program was not found to be efficacious over time for symptoms of depression (<i>F</i><sub>4,349.97</sub>=1.16; <i>P=</i>.33) or anxiety (<i>F</i><sub>4,445.99</sub>=0.12; <i>P=</i>.98). However, planned contrasts suggested that <i>myCompass 2</i> may have been effective for participants with elevated generalized anxiety disorder symptoms (<i>F</i><sub>4,332.80</sub>=3.50; <i>P=</i>.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This brief internet-based EFI did not increase the uptake of or adherence to an existing internet-based program for depression and anxiety. Individuals’ motivation to initiate and complete internet-based self-guided interventions is complex and remains a significant challenge for self-guided interventions.

CLINICALTRIAL

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001565235; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375839