The Caring Universities Project: GetStarted RCT

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

176 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-11-19

Study Completion Date

2023-04-30

Brief Summary

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Within the Caring Universities project (study protocol VCWE- 2020-076 accepted by the VCWE), we have developed a guided e-health programme (GetStarted) designed to reduce procrastination in university students. With the current study, we aim to examine the effectiveness of GetStarted in reducing procrastination behaviour. Secondary goals are to gain an insight into pre-test to post-test differences regarding symptoms of low mood, anxiety and quality of life. Additionally, we aim to gain insight into the effects of participants' satisfaction with the intervention and Ecoach, the usability of the program, and treatment adherence on the effectiveness of the treatment.

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Detailed Description

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The present study is a two-arm randomized control superiority trial. This trial will be conducted in a university setting. A guided web-based anti-procrastination programme (GetStarted) will be compared to a waiting list condition.

GetStarted was developed based on existing literature and adapted in collaboration with university students to meet the specific needs of the university students. We have conducted interviews with students to understand their opinions about this program and adapted it based on their preferences and needs. The programme is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It comprises five main modules that are delivered via computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone and four optional modules. Every module consists of evidence-based information, exercises, and homework assignments. The content is delivered in text format with pictures and infographics; some modules also include video clips and audio recordings on a relevant subject. The intervention is available in both English and Dutch.

Every week trained e-coaches (trained clinical psychology master students) will provide asynchronous written personalized feedback to each participant on the progress of the program and the exercises via the program platform. Measurements include pre- and post-assessment of procrastination behavior, common measures of psychopathology symptoms, quality of life, treatment adherence, program usability and participants' satisfaction with treatment and coaching.

All students currently enrolled at the participating universities (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Erasmus University, Universities of Leiden, Utrecht and Maastricht) are potentially eligible for the trial.

Benefits of participation and remuneration for the test subjects:

Students can participate in GetStarted free of charge, which will likely decrease their procrastination behavior. They do not receive any monetary incentives.

Conditions

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Procrastination

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

The present study is a two-arm randomized control superiority trial. This trial will be conducted in a university setting. A guided web-based anti-procrastination programme (GetStarted) will be compared to a waiting list condition.

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors

An independent researcher who is not involved in the study will generate the random sequence using a computer random sequence generator. Randomisation will take place at an individual level, stratified by gender and the university where students study. Participants will be randomised into two groups (web-based intervention vs. WL) with allocation ratio of 1:1. We will conduct block randomisation with randomly varied block sizes (6 to 12 allocations per block) to prevent foreknowledge of intervention assignment. Allocation will be concealed from the study's researchers. It is not possible to mask personnel and participants to the treatment allocation because of the nature of the intervention.

Study Groups

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We-based intervention for procrastination

GetStarted is a guided e-health application, based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It comprises 5 main and 4 optional modules that are delivered weekly via computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. Every week a trained e-coach will provide feedback on the progress of the program and the exercises via e-mail. The main modules are (1) psycho-education about procrastination (2) getting insight into one's own procrastination behavior, (3) uncovering unhelpful thoughts underlying procrastination and (4) replacing these unhelpful thoughts with helpful ones. Each module takes approximately 40 minutes to complete and participants will receive provide asynchronous written personalized feedback from their e-coaches within 48 hours (counting workdays only) after session completion.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

GetStarted

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Guided internet-based intervention for procrastination.

Wait list

Participants in the waiting list condition will receive no treatment for four weeks post-randomization. Following this, they can start the program if they choose to do so.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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GetStarted

Guided internet-based intervention for procrastination.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* aged 16 or older
* enrolled at one of the participating universities
* fluent in Dutch and/or English
* access to a PC or mobile device with internet access
* score 32 or above on the Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS)
* provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

* any suicidal risk by identifying if they (the participants) have had thoughts of killing themselves or have made plans of killing themselves in the past year and then responding to the question "How likely do you think it is that you will act on this plan in the next 12 months?" with somewhat likely or very likely

Minimum Eligible Age

16 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes