NCT05478096

The Caring Universities Project: GetStarted RCT

The Caring Universities Project: RCT Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Guided E-health Programme (GetStarted) in Reducing Procrastination in University Students

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 176 (estimated)
• Sponsor: VU University of Amsterdam · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 16 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

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.

Detailed description

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

• Procrastination

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	GetStarted	Guided internet-based intervention for procrastination.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-11-19
• Primary completion: 2022-11-01
• Completion: 2023-04-01
• First posted: 2022-07-28
• Last updated: 2022-08-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Netherlands