ArticleInternet interventions2017
A pilot randomized controlled trial of E-care for caregivers: An internet intervention for caregivers of depressed patients.
Article in Internet interventions, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Randomized controlled trials on promoting self-care behaviors among informal caregivers of older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC geriatrics · 2024Pooled it
- Internet-Based Interventions for Carers of Individuals With Psychiatric Disorders, Neurological Disorders, or Brain Injuries: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2019Pooled it
- Healthcare Interventions to Support Informal Caregivers of People With Severe Mental Illnesses: A Scoping Review.International journal of mental health nursing · 2026Article
- The role of self-efficacy in internet-based interventions for mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Internet interventions · 2025Review
- An online program with individualized vs automated support for significant others of depressed individuals - study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.BMC psychiatry · 2022Article
- A Mental Health-Informed Physical Activity Intervention for First Responders and Their Partners Delivered Using Facebook: Mixed Methods Pilot Study.JMIR formative research · 2021Article
- A randomised controlled trial comparing internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) with and without main carer access versus treatment-as-usual for depression and anxiety among breast cancer survivors: Study protocol.Internet interventions · 2021Article
- A web-based intervention for carers of individuals with anorexia nervosa (We Can): Trial protocol of a randomised controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of different levels of support.Internet interventions · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDepression has a high impact on both patients and the people around them. These non-professional caregivers often experience overburdening and are at risk for developing psychological symptoms themselves. Internet interventions have the potential to be accessible and (cost)-effective in terms of reducing and preventing psychological symptoms. Less is known about their potential to decrease psychological distress among caregivers. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate (1) the user-friendliness and (2) the initial short-term effects on psychological distress of 'E-care for caregivers', an internet based guided self-management intervention for non-professional caregivers of depressed patients.
methodsA pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT:
resultsAll participants were recruited within six weeks through online advertising. Two-thirds of participants experienced higher levels of psychological distress (K10 > 20). The internet intervention was evaluated as user-friendly by caregivers (average score of 81.5, range [0-100]). Results did not show a reduction in psychological distress or other secondary outcome measures. Sensitivity analyses showed a decreased quality of life in the control condition compared to the intervention condition ( DISCUSSION: The internet intervention was evaluated positively for usability and was considered as easy to use. The study did not show a reduction in symptoms of psychological distress. However, there were some indications that those completing the internet intervention perceived higher levels of mastery and a protective effect in quality of life post-intervention. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: As far as we know, this study is the first to examine the user-friendliness and initial effects of an internet intervention specifically designed for non-professional caregivers of depressed patients. As this was a pilot study, the findings should be interpreted with caution. We recommend investigating the possibilities of providing a (partially) sequential design as well as incorporating themes like stigma and expressed emotion in the online course and subsequent evaluation of the internet intervention in a full-scale RCT, with a six-month follow-up.
trial registrationNetherlands Trial Register: NTR5268. Registered on 30 June 2015.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.