Clinical trial NCT04885400: Feasibility and Acceptability of the Online JOBS Program
Official title: iJobs - Testing the Feasibility and Acceptability of an Online Adaptation of the Jobs Program: an Open-label Pilot Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Unemployment
Lead sponsor: West University of Timisoara
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2021-05-13
Enrollment: 56
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Intervention model description: Open-label pilot study
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: The aim of this study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of a web-based adaptation of the Jobs program (developed by Curran et al., 1999).

Detailed description: The current study is an open trial that will test the feasibility and acceptability of a web-based adaptation of the Jobs program (further be referred to as iJobs). We will use a repeated measures design: one group and three measurements (baseline, post-intervention, 3 months follow-up). iJobs consists of five sessions spread over a two-week period. The participants will learn and exercise successful job search strategies (e.g. finding job openings, creating an attractive resume, demonstrating effective interviews).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Unemployed and looking for a job
* Work as volunteers and looking for a paid job
* Have a PC or laptop and basic digital competencies

Exclusion Criteria:

* They don't have internet access and are not available during the two weeks of the program
* Suffer from a chronic disease that implies special conditions for taking part in the activities
* Severe clinical depression symptoms (Cut-off=15 at PHQ9)\*
* Severe clinical anxiety symptoms (Cut-off=15 at GAD7)\*

(\*) will be included if they receive mental health treatment

Primary outcomes:
measure: Job search behavior effort
timeFrame: Change from baseline to follow-up (3 months).
measure: Satisfaction with the intervention
timeFrame: Post-intervention (2 weeks).
measure: System usability
timeFrame: Post-intervention (2 weeks).
measure: Treatment adherence
timeFrame: Post-intervention only (2 weeks).
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Job-Search Self-Efficacy
timeFrame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (2 weeks).
measure: Self-esteem
timeFrame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (2 weeks).
measure: Inoculation against setbacks
timeFrame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (2 weeks).
measure: Future Career Anxiety
timeFrame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (2 weeks).
measure: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (2 weeks).
measure: Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD7)
timeFrame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (2 weeks).
measure: Employment status
timeFrame: Follow-up (3 months).
measure: Job Quality
timeFrame: Follow-up (3 months).
Other outcomes:
measure: Physical health
timeFrame: Baseline only (factors to be controlled for).
measure: Financial strain
timeFrame: Baseline only (factors to be controlled for).
measure: Sociodemographic information
timeFrame: Baseline only
Locations:
city: Timisoara
country: Romania
facility: West University of Timisoara
state: Timis
Study officials:
affiliation: West University of Timisoara
name: Andrei Rusu
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
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citation: Blau, G. (1994). Testing a Two-Dimensional Measure of Job Search Behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 59(2), 288-312. https://doi.org/10.1006/obhd.1994.1061
citation: Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Sep;16(9):606-13. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x.
citation: Mahmud MS, Talukder MU, Rahman SM. Does 'Fear of COVID-19' trigger future career anxiety? An empirical investigation considering depression from COVID-19 as a mediator. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2021 Feb;67(1):35-45. doi: 10.1177/0020764020935488. Epub 2020 Jul 2.
citation: Rosenberg, M. (1979). Conceiving the Self. New York: Basic Books.
citation: Saks, A.M., Zikic, J. & Koen, J. (2015). Job search self-efficacy: Reconceptualizing the construct and its measurement. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 86, 104-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2014.11.007
citation: Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Lowe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006 May 22;166(10):1092-7. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092.
citation: Ware JE Jr, Keller SD, Hatoum HT, Kong SX. The SF-36 Arthritis-Specific Health Index (ASHI): I. Development and cross-validation of scoring algorithms. Med Care. 1999 May;37(5 Suppl):MS40-50. doi: 10.1097/00005650-199905001-00004.
citation: Vuori, J. & Vinokur, A.D. (2005). Job-search preparedness as a mediator of the effects of the Tyohon Job Search Intervention on re-employment and mental health. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26, 275-291. DOI: 10.1002/job.308