Kelaa Mental Resilience App for Employees

NCT ID: NCT05924542

Last Updated: 2023-06-29

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

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

678 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-01-15

Study Completion Date

2018-09-24

Brief Summary

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The goal of this randomized control trial is to detect and prevent work-related psychological stress among European workers early on, aiming to mitigate its adverse health consequences, including burnout and depression. Soma Analytics has developed a smartphone-based system that comprises a diagnostic module utilizing smartphone sensors to collect and analyze stress biomarkers and an interventional module to reduce stress levels. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

* Hypothesis 1: Compared to the waitlist control, after using the app for 4 weeks, participants in the app group will report (a) lower levels of stress (cognitive and general), (b) higher levels of wellbeing, (c) higher levels of resilience, and (d) fewer sleeping troubles.
* Hypothesis 2: The observed effects will be more intense the more the user interacts with the app throughout the duration of the study.

Participants (employees from six organizations in three European countries) will use the app for 4 weeks. Their levels of stress, well-being, resilience, and sleeping troubles are assessed at baseline, after 2 weeks (mid-intervention), 4 weeks (end of intervention), and 6 weeks (follow-up).

Researchers will compare the intervention group with the waitlist control group to see if levels of stress, well-being, resilience, and sleeping troubles change over time.

Detailed Description

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Work-related psycho-social risks and stress have a significant impact on numerous workplaces in Europe, leading to adverse health and business outcomes, as previous research has shown. Prolonged stress have been shown to eventually result in burnout and depression. In 2013, the total annual cost of work-related stress and depression in the EU-27 was estimated to be €617 billion. This figure encompasses expenses borne by employers due to absenteeism (€272 billion), reduced productivity (€242 billion), healthcare costs (€63 billion), and social welfare expenses (€39 billion).

The primary objective of the project is to identify and prevent work-related psychological stress that can lead to negative health outcomes like burnout and depression. To achieve this, Soma Analytics has developed a comprehensive smartphone-based system that promotes mental resilience by continuously monitoring well-known stress biomarkers. The solution consists of three modules: a diagnostic module that utilizes smartphone sensors to gather and analyse stress biomarkers, an interventional module comprising smartphone apps aimed at reducing stress levels, and an analytics module that aggregates anonymous data to identify specific human resources issues, such as abnormal stress levels in particular departments. Soma's approach to preventing stress and promoting positive mental health in the workplace includes validated psychological interventions that are tailored to each individual, guiding users through a personalized micro-learning journey. The extensive database of interventions covers a wide range of topics, providing diverse options for users.

This large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) involves participants from six organizations across three European countries. It is conducted to validate the solution's effectiveness in reducing stress and improving overall well-being. In a real-world work environment, the investigators examine the effectiveness of Soma's solution. It was hypothesized that it may reduce stress levels, enhance overall well-being, boost resilience, and reduce sleep difficulties compared to a waitlist control group.

Conditions

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Stress Presenteeism Absenteeism

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

RCT with intervention and wait-list control group.
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Intervention Group

Participants had access to the Kelaa Mental Resilience App for 4 weeks. Thus, participants in the intervention group could complete a maximum of 28 sessions and track a maximum of 28 nights. It was completely left to the user to what extent s/he wanted to engage with the app. The app seeks to translate insights from scientific research on psychology, sleep medicine, and neuroscience into an action-based program. It draws on the tenets of clinical, health, positive, cognitive, biological, and social psychology to foster recovery and growth. "Kelaa" aims to reduce stress and increase well-being of the user, specifically in the workplace. Users learn new behaviors and best practices through different means, for example, based on CBT and mindfulness based cognitive therapy. The app is designed to implement lifestyle changes through (1) measuring behavior, cognitions, and emotions (tracking module) and (2) providing psycho-educational content (intervention module).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Kelaa Mental Resilience App

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Users can track their stress, wellbeing, and resilience via short in-app questionnaires. The app uses inbuilt sensors in smartphones to measure sleep quality and quantity. Personalized feedback on questionnaire scores and on sleep data are given. Users access structured science-based content on factors contributing to reduced stress and improved well-being. "Kelaa" provides the user with evidence-based interventions grounded in current research, e.g., from sleep science and psychology. Users can choose from a variety of topics, based on their results from the tracking module and personal interest, and then journey through the self-selected goals. Each goal includes six to seven "daily sessions", aiming to increase personal resources by providing information, exercises, and reflection. During each daily session, relevant research and expected benefits are outlined, before users are instructed, e.g., in specific stress management and resilience techniques, to encourage behavior change.

Wait-list Control Group

Participants in the waitlist control group received no intervention and no tracking opportunity for the duration of the trial (6 weeks), yet they had unrestricted access to treatment as usual within their companies. Upon completion of the trial, participants in the waitlist control group received access to the "Kelaa" app.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Kelaa Mental Resilience App

Users can track their stress, wellbeing, and resilience via short in-app questionnaires. The app uses inbuilt sensors in smartphones to measure sleep quality and quantity. Personalized feedback on questionnaire scores and on sleep data are given. Users access structured science-based content on factors contributing to reduced stress and improved well-being. "Kelaa" provides the user with evidence-based interventions grounded in current research, e.g., from sleep science and psychology. Users can choose from a variety of topics, based on their results from the tracking module and personal interest, and then journey through the self-selected goals. Each goal includes six to seven "daily sessions", aiming to increase personal resources by providing information, exercises, and reflection. During each daily session, relevant research and expected benefits are outlined, before users are instructed, e.g., in specific stress management and resilience techniques, to encourage behavior change.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Older than 18 years old
* Having a mobile phone with internet access
* Accepting informed consent
* Being employed in one of the participating organizations at the time of the recruitment

Exclusion Criteria

* Younger than 18
* Being unemployed at the time of recruitment
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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SOMA Analytics UK

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Wuerzburg

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Dr. Silvana Weber

Lead Researcher

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Christopher P Lorenz

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

SOMA Analytics UK

Locations

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Soma Analytics UK

London, , United Kingdom

Site Status

Countries

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United Kingdom

References

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Weber S, Lorenz C, Hemmings N. Improving Stress and Positive Mental Health at Work via an App-Based Intervention: A Large-Scale Multi-Center Randomized Control Trial. Front Psychol. 2019 Dec 6;10:2745. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02745. eCollection 2019.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 31866915 (View on PubMed)

de Miquel C, Moneta MV, Weber S, Lorenz C, Olaya B, Haro JM. The Mediating Role of General and Cognitive Stress on the Effect of an App-Based Intervention on Productivity Measures in Workers: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2023 Jul 3;25:e42317. doi: 10.2196/42317.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37399056 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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H2020-725832

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id