%0 Journal Article
%T Effectiveness of a stepped-care programme of internet-based psychological interventions for healthcare workers with psychological distress: Study protocol for the RESPOND healthcare workers randomised controlled trial.
%A Mediavilla R
%A McGreevy KR
%A Felez-Nobrega M
%A Monistrol-Mula A
%A Bravo-Ortiz MF
%A Bayón C
%A Rodríguez-Vega B
%A Nicaise P
%A Delaire A
%A Sijbrandij M
%A Witteveen AB
%A Purgato M
%A Barbui C
%A Tedeschi F
%A Melchior M
%A van der Waerden J
%A McDaid D
%A Park AL
%A Kalisch R
%A Petri-Romão P
%A Underhill J
%A Bryant RA
%A Haro JM
%A Ayuso-Mateos JL
%A  
%J Digit Health
%V 8
%N 0
%D Jan-Dec 2022
%M 36211795
%F 4.687
%R 10.1177/20552076221129084
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has challenged health services worldwide, with a worsening of healthcare workers' mental health within initial pandemic hotspots. In early 2022, the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly around the world. This study explores the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a stepped-care programme of scalable, internet-based psychological interventions for distressed health workers on self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>We present the study protocol for a multicentre (two sites), parallel-group (1:1 allocation ratio), analyst-blinded, superiority, randomised controlled trial. Healthcare workers with psychological distress will be allocated either to care as usual only or to care as usual plus a stepped-care programme that includes two scalable psychological interventions developed by the World Health Organization: A guided self-help stress management guide (Doing What Matters in Times of Stress) and a five-session cognitive behavioural intervention (Problem Management Plus). All participants will receive a single-session emotional support intervention, namely psychological first aid. We will include 212 participants. An intention-to-treat analysis using linear mixed models will be conducted to explore the programme's effect on anxiety and depression symptoms, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire - Anxiety and Depression Scale summary score at 21 weeks from baseline. Secondary outcomes include post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, resilience, quality of life, cost impact and cost-effectiveness.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>This study is the first randomised trial that combines two World Health Organization psychological interventions tailored for health workers into one stepped-care programme. Results will inform occupational and mental health prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04980326.