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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05962554

IJobs - an Internet Intervention for the Unemployed

The current study aims to test the efficacy of iJobs, an online intervention for the unemployed. iJobs is an online adaptation of the JOBS program.

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Key information

Conditions

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

West University of Timisoara

Timișoara, 300223, Romania

About this study

The current study is a two-arm randomized controlled trial that will test the efficacy of iJobs (a web-based adaptation of the JOBS program) against a waiting list control group. Participants from the control group will be enrolled in iJobs 2 weeks after the experimental group finishes the program. iJobs is a 2-week intervention consisting of 5 modules focusing on discovering job skills, job search strategies, preparing effective resumes, exercising different types of interviews, and overcoming setbacks in the job search process. iJobs was previously tested in a feasibility and acceptability trial.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Unemployed and looking for a job
  • Work as volunteers and are looking for a paid job
  • Have a PC or laptop and basic digital competencies

Exclusion criteria

  • They don't have internet access and are not available during the two weeks of the program

Treatment and study plan

iJobs

Behavioral

iJobs is a 2-week intervention consisting of 5 modules focusing on discovering job skills, job search strategies, preparing effective resumes, exercising different types of interviews, and overcoming setbacks in the job search process. This is an adaptation of the JOBS program.

Primary outcomes

  1. Participants' self-efficacy regarding the job search process

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-intervention and follow-up (approximately 2 weeks and 6 weeks)

    The Job Search Self-Efficacy Scale (20-item) measures participants' perception of their ability to gain employment. The minimum score is 20 and the maximum is 100. A higher score means a better outcome (increased job search self-efficacy).

  2. Participants' job search intensity and effort

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-intervention and follow-up (approximately 2 weeks and 6 weeks)

    The investigators will use a version of Blau's Job-search behaviors scale adapted to the contemporary context and Romanian population. The scale measures participants' involvement in job search activities in terms of frequency and intensity. The minimum score is 16 and the maximum is 80. A higher score means a better outcome (increased job search behavior effort).

  3. The quality of participants' job search behaviors

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-intervention and follow-up (approximately 2 weeks and 6 weeks)

    The Job search quality scale has 20 items and measures the quality in which the job search behaviors are performed. The minimum score is 20 and the maximum is 100. A higher score means a better outcome (increased job search quality).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Participants' ability to deal with setbacks in the job search process

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

    Inoculation against setbacks (i.e., participants' ability to deal with setbacks) will be measured using 2 items retrieved from previous studies. The minimum score is 2 and the maximum is 10. A higher score means a better outcome (presence of inoculation against setbacks).

  2. Participants' overall self-esteem

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

    Rosenberg's Self Esteem Scale measures global self-worth by measuring both positive and negative feelings about the self using 10 items. The minimum score of Rosenberg's Self Esteem Scale is 10 and the highest one is 40. A higher score means a better outcome.

  3. Participants' anxiety regarding their future career

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

    The investigators will measure participants' anxiety regarding their future career with the Future Career Anxiety Scale. The minimum score is 5 and the maximum is 25. A higher score means a worse outcome (increased anxiety).

  4. Generalised Anxiety symptoms

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

    The investigators will measure participants' anxiety symptoms using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment. This is a 7-item instrument that uses the DSM-V criteria to assess anxiety symptom severity. The minimum score is 0 and the highest one is 21. A higher score means a worse outcome (a higher level of anxiety).

  5. Depression symptoms

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

    The investigators will measure participants' depression symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The scale measures participants' severity of depression using DSM IV criteria. The minimum score is 0 and the highest one is 27. A higher score means a worse outcome (more severe symptoms of depression).

  6. Participants' mental health complaints

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

    The investigators will measure participants' mental health complaints with the Mental Health Complaints Scale. This is a 5-item instrument that will be used to assess mental health complaints. The minimum score is 6 and the highest is 30. A higher score means a worse outcome.

  7. Participants' psychological capital

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-intervention (approximately 2 weeks)

    The investigators will measure participants' psychological capital with the 12-item Compound PsyCap Scale. The minimum score is 12 and the highest is 72. A higher score means a better outcome.

Other outcomes

  1. Physical health

    Time frame: Baseline only

    The investigators will use a short version of Ware's Physical Health Complaints Scale to measure participants' perceptions of their health. The minimum score is 4 and the highest is 20. A higher score means a worse outcome (worse physical health).

  2. Treatment adherence

    Time frame: Post-intervention only (approximately 2 weeks)

    Drop out rate; The number of completed assignments; Quality of completed assignment (qualitative rating of the degree of completeness and depth of the answer for each assignment, conducted by two independent experts based on apriori established coding grids).

  3. Satisfaction with the intervention

    Time frame: Post-intervention only (approximately 2 weeks)

    Satisfaction with the intervention will be measured using 17 items. Eleven items are measured on a 4-points, 5-points, and 10-points Likert scale. Each item will be analyzed separately. A higher score means greater satisfaction. The other 6 items are open-ended questions and imply qualitative analysis.

  4. System usability

    Time frame: Post-intervention only (approximately 2 weeks)

    We will use a 10-item questionnaire designed to measure participants' satisfaction with TalentLMS, the online platform used for the program delivery. The total score of System Usability Scale is 0 and the highest one is 100. A higher score means a better outcome.

  5. Sociodemographic information

    Time frame: Baseline only

    Age, gender, residential area, educational level, average monthly income, unemployment period, work experience, and targeted professional field.

  6. Employment status

    Time frame: Follow-up only (approximately 6 weeks)

    Self-reported employment status will be measured at follow-up, using a dichotomous question.

  7. Employment satisfaction

    Time frame: Follow-up only (approximately 6 weeks)

    Self-reported employment quality will be measured at follow-up using 4 questions. One of them is a dichotomous question, while the other 3 questions are measured on a Likert scale. The minimum score is 3, and the maximum is 30. A higher score means greater satisfaction with the job.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

West University of Timisoara

Other

Registry information

Official study title

IJobs - an Internet Intervention for the Unemployed: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: iJobs

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jul 27, 2023
Registry last updated
Apr 2, 2025

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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