{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: 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.
{Author}: Mediavilla R;McGreevy KR;Felez-Nobrega M;Monistrol-Mula A;Bravo-Ortiz MF;Bayón C;Rodríguez-Vega B;Nicaise P;Delaire A;Sijbrandij M;Witteveen AB;Purgato M;Barbui C;Tedeschi F;Melchior M;van der Waerden J;McDaid D;Park AL;Kalisch R;Petri-Romão P;Underhill J;Bryant RA;Haro JM;Ayuso-Mateos JL; ;
{Journal}: Digit Health
{Volume}: 8
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: Jan-Dec 2022
{Factor}: 4.687
{DOI}: 10.1177/20552076221129084
{Abstract}: <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.