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NCT Number: NCT06910748

An Online Guided Self-help Intervention to Improve Common Mental Health Problems Among Medical Professionals

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an online guided self-help intervention developed based on Problem Solving Therapy (PST) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which are both transdiagnostic low-intensity interventions recommended by the World Health Organization, in improving medical professionals' mental health.

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Key information

Conditions

Depression, Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Depression Mental Disorders Personal Satisfaction Psychological Well-Being

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK

Hong Kong, China, No postal code

About this study

Despite the high prevalence of common mental health problems among medical professionals (MPs), their help-seeking for mental health support is low. Existing interventions are empirically effective but practically challenging to be applied in Hong Kong given the long intervention hours and fixed schedule. New interventions are needed to cater for the unique needs of local MPs.

Objectives: An online guided self-help intervention for MPs, E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (the EMPOWER program), will be developed based on Problem Solving Therapy (PST) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which are both transdiagnostic low-intensity interventions recommended by the World Health Organization. Targeted at local MPs aged 18-60 with depression and/or anxiety symptoms, the intervention aims to reduce their symptoms through strengthening coping skills for work-related problems. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted to evaluate (1) the intervention's efficacy in reducing depression/anxiety compared with an active control (education pamphlets); (2) its efficacy in improving the levels of PTSD symptoms, well-being, burnout, and work performance versus active control; (3) the potential mediators/mechanisms explaining any between-group differences.

Method: 120 participants will be recruited online. The EMPOWER group will receive four 30-min self-paced weekly intervention sessions. The active control group will receive four weekly education pamphlets. Data will be collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention and 1-month follow-up. The group effect will be examined by comparing the mean improvement scores and remission rates on the outcome variables among the two groups. The potential mediation effects of problem solving and psychological flexibility between the two groups and the outcomes will also be tested.

Expected outcomes: The investigators expect (1) greater reductions in depression and/or anxiety as well as levels of PTSD, well-being, burnout, and work performance for the EMPOWER group at post-treatment and 1-month follow-up than active control, and that (2) the EMPOWER program will reduce depression and/or anxiety through enhancement in problem solving and psychological flexibility.

Implications: Findings can help to identify a cost-effective, flexible, and readily accessible mental health intervention for local MPs.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • (1) being a frontline medical professional working in local public settings;
  • (2) at least 18 years of age;
  • (3) able to read and understand Chinese;
  • (4) have access to the Internet; and
  • (5) Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and/or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) score>=5, indicating at least mild levels of depression and/or anxiety.

Exclusion Criterion:

  • actively suicidal.

Treatment and study plan

E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (E.M.P.O.W.E.R.)

Behavioral

The EMPOWER programme aims to help participants acquire problem-solving skills adapted into the context of MPs' workplace and daily life to address their work-related, personal, and interpersonal problems, including self-neglect, work-life imbalance, patient communication problems, as well as stress during emerging public health crises. The session elements include video introduction, metaphors, daily examples, and narrative stories with prototype MP characters depicting the targeted problems to demonstrate how the taught problem-solving skills could be applied in a variety of situations. Brief exercise and homework will be assigned after each session and personalized written feedback will be provided. ACT strategies were also incorporated throughout the program to facilitate behavioral change.

Education Materials

Other

The active control receive education materials covering (1) introduction of mental health problems; (2) signs, symptoms, causes, and consequences of anxiety and depression, and (3) treatment approaches and available community resources.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline depression immediately after the interventions

    Time frame: immediately after the interventions

    The outcome will be measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) consisting of 9 questions designed to correspond to the 9 diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Items are rated from 0 to 3 according to increased frequency of experiencing difficulties in each area covered. Scores are summed and can range from 0 to 27. Score 10 is often recommended as the cut-off score to detect major depressive disorder. Scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represent cut-off points for mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression, respectively. The Chinese version has been validated.

  2. Change from baseline depression 1 month after the interventions

    Time frame: 1 month after the interventions

    The outcome will be measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) consisting of 9 questions designed to correspond to the 9 diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Items are rated from 0 to 3 according to increased frequency of experiencing difficulties in each area covered. Scores are summed and can range from 0 to 27. Score 10 is often recommended as the cut-off score to detect major depressive disorder. Scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represent cut-off points for mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression, respectively. The Chinese version has been validated.

  3. Change from baseline anxiety immediately after the interventions

    Time frame: Immediately after the interventions

    The outcome will be measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD), which is a 7-item instrument developed to identify likely cases of generalized anxiety disorder in primary care patients. Items are rated for the last two weeks, using a four-point rating scale for duration from 1 ("not at all") to 5 ("nearly every day"). A score of 10 or greater represents a cut point for identifying cases of generalized anxiety disorder, while cut points of 5, 10, 15, and 20 are interpreted as representing mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe levels of anxiety. The Chinese version has been validated.

  4. Change from baseline anxiety 1 month after the interventions

    Time frame: 1 month after the interventions

    The outcome will be measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD), which is a 7-item instrument developed to identify likely cases of generalized anxiety disorder in primary care patients. Items are rated for the last two weeks, using a four-point rating scale for duration from 1 ("not at all") to 5 ("nearly every day"). A score of 10 or greater represents a cut point for identifying cases of generalized anxiety disorder, while cut points of 5, 10, 15, and 20 are interpreted as representing mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe levels of anxiety. The Chinese version has been validated.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Other

Registry information

Official study title

E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (E.M.P.O.W.E.R.) - An Online Guided Self-help Intervention to Improve Common Mental Health Problems Among Medical Professionals : A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: EMPOWER

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 4, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 3, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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