Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36217366›Full record

ArticleInternet interventions2022

A protocol for a type 1 effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial of the WHO digital mental health intervention Step-by-Step to address depression among Chinese young adults in Macao (SAR), China.

Hao Fong Sit, Gen Li, Wen Chen, Elvo Kuai Long Sou, Mek Wong, Sebastian Burchert, Ieng Wai Hong, Ho Yi Sit, Agnes Iok Fong Lam, Brian J Hall

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Internet interventions, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 32% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 5 institutions in 5 countries.

Hao Fong SitDepartment of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong (SAR), People's Republic of China.
Gen LiCenter for Global Health Equity, New York University (Shanghai), Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Wen ChenDepartment of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhongshan Road 2, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Elvo Kuai Long SouStudent Affairs Office, University of Macau, Macao (SAR), People's Republic of China.
Mek WongStudent Affairs Office, University of Macau, Macao (SAR), People's Republic of China.
Sebastian BurchertDepartment of Education and Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin (FUB), Germany.
Ieng Wai HongMoon Chun Memorial College, University of Macau, Macao (SAR), People's Republic of China.
Ho Yi SitShiu Pong College, University of Macau, Macao (SAR), People's Republic of China.
Agnes Iok Fong LamCentre for Macau Studies, University of Macau, Macao (SAR), People's Republic of China.
Brian J HallCenter for Global Health Equity, New York University (Shanghai), Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
University of Macau · MONew York University Shanghai · CNFreie Universität Berlin · DESun Yat-sen University · CNUniversity of Hong Kong · HK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Among Chinese college students, the burden of depression is considerably high, affecting up to 30 % of the population. Despite this burden, few Chinese students seek mental health treatment. In addition, depression is highly comorbid with other mental health disorders, such as anxiety. Scalable, transdiagnostic, evidence-based interventions are needed for this population. Objective: The study will evaluate the effectiveness of a World Health Organization transdiagnostic digital mental health intervention, Step-by-Step, to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms and improve well-being compared with enhanced care as usual and its implementation in a Chinese university community. Methods: A type 1 effectiveness-implementation two-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial will be conducted. The two conditions are 1) the 5-session Step-by-Step program with minimal guidance by trained peer-helpers and 2) psychoeducational information on depression and anxiety and referrals to local community services. A total of 334 Chinese university students will be randomized with a 1:1 ratio to either of the two groups. Depression, anxiety, wellbeing, and client defined problems will be assessed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Endline qualitative interviews and focus group discussions will be conducted to explore SbS implementation among service users, university staff, and stakeholders. Data will be analysed based on the intent-to-treat principle. Discussion: Step-by-Step is an innovative approach to address common mental health problems in populations with sufficient digital literacy. It is a promising intervention that can be embedded to scale mental health services within a university setting. It is anticipated that after successful evaluation of the program and its implementation in the type 1 hybrid design RCT study, Step-by-Step can be scaled and maintained as a low-intensity treatment in universities, and potentially extended to other populations within the Chinese community. Trial registration: ChiCTR2100050214.

Indexed as

AE, adverse eventBehavioral activationCollege studentsCONSORT, Consolidated Standards of Reporting TrialsCSQ, Client Satisfaction QuestionnaireDASS-21, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale – 21 itemsDepressionDigital interventionECAU, enhanced care as usualGAD-7, Generalized Anxiety DisorderImplementationITT, intention-to-treatPCC, Psychological Counselling CenterPCL, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5PHQ, Patient Health QuestionnairePSYCHLOPS, Psychological Outcomes Profile InstrumentRandomized controlled trialRCT, randomized controlled trialRE-AIM, Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and MaintenanceSAE, serious adverse eventSbS, Step-by-StepSPIRIT, Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional TrialsWHO, World Health Organization

Identifiers

PMID36217366
PMCPMC9547191
OpenAlexW4297537298

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.