Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05651737

App-based Psychosocial Intervention to Enhance Quality of Life in Arabic-speaking Refugees Residing in Switzerland

The ongoing warfare and economic instability in the Middle East and in North Africa causes many people to leave their home countries. Arrived in a host countries, in this example, in Switzerland, they face a lot of structural and psychosocial hurdles. Particularly in the first years, building up a certain quality of life is complicated and challenging. To support this process, the Swiss Red Cross and the University of Bern have developed the Sui app. It contains structural and social information as well as low-intensity psychological tools to provide support to the everyday life of Arabic-speaking people in Switzerland.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Quality of Life Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Depression Mental Disorders PTSD Social Behavior Social Stigma Stigma, Social Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Bern

Bern, Canton of Bern, 3012, Switzerland

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • At least 18 years old
  • Arabic as native or second language
  • Good knowledge of reading, writing and speaking Arabic
  • Have lived in Switzerland for no longer than 5 years
  • Give written consent
  • Have access to a smartphone and an internet connection
  • Indicate an emergency contact whom they could contact in event of a crisis

Exclusion criteria

  • Indicate an increased risk of self-harm or suicide at baseline
  • Indicate having been diagnosed with psychosis or bipolar disorder
  • Be participating in a similar study at baseline
  • Have a lack of written and spoken Arabic skills

Treatment and study plan

Sui App (SRK)

Behavioral

The Sui app contains the following chapters:

6 well-being chapters on: stress, sleep, resources throughout the day, chronic pain, emotion regulation, audio exercises 9 Swiss-specific information chapters on: housing, health (two sub-chapters), finances, asylum process, residence status, social integration, occupational integration, family reunification

Primary outcomes

  1. Well-being at baseline

    Time frame: Baseline

    Measured by the WHO Quality of Life Short Version (WHOQOL-BREF, 4 domain scores, mean score multiplied by 4, 0 (low) to 100 (high) range)

  2. Well-being at post-intervention timepoint

    Time frame: Post (after 8 weeks)

    Measured by the WHO Quality of Life Short Version (WHOQOL-BREF, 4 domain scores, mean score multiplied by 4, 0 (low) to 100 (high) range)

  3. Well-being at follow-up timepoint

    Time frame: Follow-Up (after 16 weeks)

    Measured by the WHO Quality of Life Short Version (WHOQOL-BREF, 4 domain scores, mean score multiplied by 4, 0 (low) to100 (high) range)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Satisfaction with the treatment

    Time frame: Post (after 8 weeks), Follow-Up (after 16 weeks)

    Measured by the Questionnaire on satisfaction with the treatment (ZUF-8, 1(low) to 4 (high) scores) adapted for "app" as intervention

  2. Self-stigma

    Time frame: Baseline, Post (after 8 weeks), Follow-Up (after 16 weeks)

    Measured by the Self-stigma of mental illness scale short form (SSMIS-SF, 1(strongly disagree) to 9 (strongly agree) scores)

  3. PTSD symptoms

    Time frame: Baseline, Post (after 8 weeks), Follow-Up (after 16 weeks)

    Measured by the Post traumatic stress disorder checklist scale according to DSM-5 (PCL-5, 0 (not at all) to 80 (extremely) range)

  4. Somatic symptoms

    Time frame: Baseline, Post (after 8 weeks), Follow-Up (after 16 weeks)

    Measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire 15 (PHQ-15, 0 (normal) to 30 (severe) symptom range )

  5. Anxiety symptoms

    Time frame: Baseline, Post (after 8 weeks), Follow-Up (after 16 weeks)

    Measured by the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7, 0 (minimal) to 21 (severe) symptom range)

  6. Depressive symptoms

    Time frame: Baseline, Post (after 8 weeks), Follow-Up (after 16 weeks)

    Measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9, 0 (no suspicion of) to 27 (suspicion of severe) depression range)

  7. Post migration stressors

    Time frame: Baseline, Post (after 8 weeks), Follow-Up (after 16 weeks)

    Measured by the Post-migratory life difficulties Checklist (PMLD-CL, 0 (no) to 4 (very serious) post migration problem scores)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Bern

Other

Collaborators

  • Freie Universität Berlin
  • Swiss Transfusion SRC

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of an Unguided or Peer-guided App-based Psychosocial Intervention to Enhance Quality of Life in Arabic-speaking Refugees Residing in Switzerland: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: Sui

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Dec 15, 2022
Registry last updated
May 8, 2024

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.