A pilot randomised controlled trial of the Peer Tree digital intervention targeting loneliness in young people: a study protocol.
Digital technology
E-mental health
Loneliness
Mental health
Randomised controlled trial
Strength-based
University students
Young adults
Journal
Trials
ISSN: 1745-6215
Titre abrégé: Trials
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101263253
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
02 Feb 2023
02 Feb 2023
Historique:
received:
17
12
2020
accepted:
16
12
2022
entrez:
3
2
2023
pubmed:
4
2
2023
medline:
7
2
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Young people are vulnerable to experiencing problematic levels of loneliness which can lead to poor mental health outcomes. Loneliness is a malleable treatment target and preliminary evidence has shown that it can be addressed with digital platforms. Peer Tree is a strength-based digital smartphone application aimed at reducing loneliness. The study aim is to reduce loneliness and assess the acceptability, usability, and feasibility of Peer Tree in young people enrolled at university. This will be a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing a strength-based digital smartphone application (Peer Tree) with a control condition. Forty-two young people enrolled at university will be recruited for this pilot RCT. Participants with suicidal ideation or behaviours, acute psychiatric symptoms in the past month, or a current diagnosis of a mood or social anxiety disorder will be excluded. Allocation will be made on a 1:1 ratio and will occur after the initial baseline assessment. Assessments are completed at baseline, at post-intervention, and at follow-up. Participants in the control condition complete the same three assessment sessions. The primary outcome of the study will be loneliness. Depression, social anxiety, quality of life, acceptability, usability, feasibility, and safety of Peer Tree will also be measured as secondary outcomes. This trial will report the findings of implementing Peer Tree, a smartphone application aimed at reducing loneliness in university students. Findings from this trial will highlight the initial efficacy, acceptability, and feasibility of using digital positive psychology interventions to reduce subthreshold mental health concerns. Findings from this trial will also describe the safety of Peer Tree as a digital tool. Results will contribute evidence for positive psychology interventions to address mental ill-health. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12619000350123. Registered on 6 March 2020.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Young people are vulnerable to experiencing problematic levels of loneliness which can lead to poor mental health outcomes. Loneliness is a malleable treatment target and preliminary evidence has shown that it can be addressed with digital platforms. Peer Tree is a strength-based digital smartphone application aimed at reducing loneliness. The study aim is to reduce loneliness and assess the acceptability, usability, and feasibility of Peer Tree in young people enrolled at university.
METHODS
METHODS
This will be a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing a strength-based digital smartphone application (Peer Tree) with a control condition. Forty-two young people enrolled at university will be recruited for this pilot RCT. Participants with suicidal ideation or behaviours, acute psychiatric symptoms in the past month, or a current diagnosis of a mood or social anxiety disorder will be excluded. Allocation will be made on a 1:1 ratio and will occur after the initial baseline assessment. Assessments are completed at baseline, at post-intervention, and at follow-up. Participants in the control condition complete the same three assessment sessions. The primary outcome of the study will be loneliness. Depression, social anxiety, quality of life, acceptability, usability, feasibility, and safety of Peer Tree will also be measured as secondary outcomes.
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSIONS
This trial will report the findings of implementing Peer Tree, a smartphone application aimed at reducing loneliness in university students. Findings from this trial will highlight the initial efficacy, acceptability, and feasibility of using digital positive psychology interventions to reduce subthreshold mental health concerns. Findings from this trial will also describe the safety of Peer Tree as a digital tool. Results will contribute evidence for positive psychology interventions to address mental ill-health.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
BACKGROUND
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12619000350123. Registered on 6 March 2020.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36732797
doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-07029-7
pii: 10.1186/s13063-022-07029-7
pmc: PMC9893200
doi:
Types de publication
Clinical Trial Protocol
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
77Informations de copyright
© 2023. The Author(s).
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