WorryTime: A randomized controlled trial comparing smartphone and paper and pencil delivery of worry postponement in young Australians aged 16-25 years

In a sample of young Australians aged 16-25 years, does smartphone delivery, compared with paper and pencil delivery of the stimulus control technique of worry postponement, improve engagement with and ease of use of the technique and thereby improve levels of worry to a greater extent?

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12615001320549

Enrollment

475

Registered

2015-12-02

Start date

2016-02-15

Completion date

2016-03-21

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

This study aims to compared two methods of delivery for the stimulus control technique of worry postponement; the traditional paper and pencil diary method or a novel smartphone application 'WorryTime' method. The study will examine whether using the technique on a mobile phone platform increases the frequency and duration of use of the technique and improves the effectiveness of the technique, as compared with the traditional paper and pencil methods. Additionally the study aims to explore user satisfaction, acceptability and usability of the smartphone application compared with the paper and pencil diaries. Two hundred young adults (aged 16-25 years) will be recruited to the study via Facebook and asked to use the worry postponement technique for 7 days.

Interventions

Participants in the intervention group will be asked to use the stimulus control technique of worry postponement via a smartphone application called WorryTime for 7 days. The technique invites users to postpone worries they experience during the day and worry about them at a set time period each day, usually in the evening. During the day users make a brief note of their worry in the application and then attempt to continue with what they were doing. When the designated worry time arrives (the application provides a reminder alarm), the user reviews the list of worries generated during the day. Worries that no longer bother the user can be dismissed (via a swipe action on the application), allowing them to focus their attention on the remaining active worries. Users are encouraged to engage in problem solving to assist them during their scheduled worry time. When the worry time window elapses (time period is set by the user), users are again encouraged to continue with their day.

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Prevention

Masking

Open (masking not used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

16 Years to 25 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

Participants must meet the following criteria to be included in the study: - be aged between 16 and 25 years (inclusive) - have sufficient English comprehension in order to complete the surveys - be located in Australia - have daily access to a smartphone that is compatible with the WorryTime application

Exclusion criteria

- outside of specified age range - located outside of Australia - insufficient English comprehension - lacks daily access to a compatible smartphone - does not provide informed consent

Outcome results