Online Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Program for Hong Kong University Students

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Brief summary: The objective of this study is to develop an internet-based cognitive behavioral intervention program (including an online platform and a smartphone application) for Chinese university students in Hong Kong, and examine its effectiveness in reducing psychological distress, anxiety/depression symptoms, and improving emotions and automatic thoughts. The 3-month maintenance effect will also be tested.

Detailed Description
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Previous research has provided evidence for the effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioral intervention in improving mental health, but most studies were done in Western countries. This study is intended to design a culturally appropriate online program especially for Chinese university students in Hong Kong. The program will include 8 weekly sessions and one face-to-face session and one telephone follow-up with a with certified CBT therapist. The effects on psychological distress, anxiety/depression, emotions, and automatic thoughts will be tested.

Official Title
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An Evidence-based Program Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Preventive Intervention in Reducing Psychological Distress for Chinese University Students in Hong Kong

Conditions
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Psychological Distress

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: REST Online（Reduce Stress Tour Online）


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Chinese nationality Has mild to moderate level of psychological distress Receive no face-to-face counselling since program commencement Exclusion Criteria: Has low/high level of psychological distress Has one or more psychosis Has suicidal risk in the past 3 months

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: web-based cognitive behavioral intervention<br>The web-based program is consisted of 8 online modules, forum, internal messaging, reminder, online assessment and online booking. Each online module contains mood check, animation briefing and debriefing, case demonstration videos, session review and exercise. Blended mode is adopted to deliver service, which includes the online program, one face-to-face session and one telephone follow-up with a certified CBT therapist. | Other: REST Online（Reduce Stress Tour Online）<br>* Different cognitive behavioral skills are introduced and practiced in a 8 weekly online program, which includes animation briefing and debriefing, case demonstration video, exercise, forum, internal messaging, online assessment and reminder. One face-to-face session and one telephone follow-up provided by an experienced CBT therapist are also provided to clients.<br>|
| Experimental: app-based cognitive behavioral intervention<br>Application-based cognitive behavioral intervention program The App-based program is consisted of 8 online modules, forum, internal messaging, reminder, online assessment and online booking. Each online module contains mood check, animation briefing and debriefing, case demonstration videos, session review and exercise. Blended mode is adopted to deliver service, which includes the online program, one face-to-face session and one telephone follow-up with a certified CBT therapist. | Other: REST Online（Reduce Stress Tour Online）<br>* Different cognitive behavioral skills are introduced and practiced in a 8 weekly online program, which includes animation briefing and debriefing, case demonstration video, exercise, forum, internal messaging, online assessment and reminder. One face-to-face session and one telephone follow-up provided by an experienced CBT therapist are also provided to clients.<br>|
| Other: Wait-list control group<br>No intervention will be provided when the experimental groups are receiving services, but the access to the App-based program will be delivered to the wait-list control group after the two experimental groups complete the service. | Other: REST Online（Reduce Stress Tour Online）<br>* Different cognitive behavioral skills are introduced and practiced in a 8 weekly online program, which includes animation briefing and debriefing, case demonstration video, exercise, forum, internal messaging, online assessment and reminder. One face-to-face session and one telephone follow-up provided by an experienced CBT therapist are also provided to clients.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) | 12 item rating scale for psychological distress. | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) | 21-item rating scale for depressive symptoms. | 3 months | 
| Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) | 21-item rating scale for cognitive and somatic symptoms of anxiety. | 3 months | 
| Chinese Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (CATQ) | 20-item rating scale for automatic thoughts. | 3 months | 
| Chinese Affect Scale (CAS) | 20-item rating scale for affect state of Chinese-speaking people. | 3 months | 
| Electronic Learning Satisfaction Scale (ELSS) (administered at post-test only)) | 17-item rating scale for satisfaction toward electronic learning | 2 months |