None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The primary objective of this study is to run a randomised controlled trial to evaluate Shift, a novel smartphone application designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of doctors in training in Australia. Specifically, we will see if those who were provided access to the app had reduced depression symptoms. This will be the first app of its kind, in that it is specifically designed for doctors in training who would like to learn about how to improve or maintain their mental health while entering the workforce in the demanding medical profession. The app uses therapeutic elements (cognitive-behavioural, mindfulness, and psycho-educational contents) designed to alleviate or prevent the worsening of mental health symptoms and encourage help-seeking behaviours. We will conduct a nationwide RCT of the app, in which half of the participants will be assigned to an experimental condition (they can use the app as soon as they register), and half of the participants will be assigned to a waitlist control condition (they can only use the app three months after registration). This will enable us to accurately test at scale whether access to the app effectively reduces depression and other mental health and functioning symptoms in doctors in training, and whether Shift can help encourage early help seeking.
Interventions
The aim of this project is to conduct a randomised controlled trial of a novel smartphone application designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of junior doctors in Australia.
Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: (1) the experimental group, in which they will be provided with a link to download the app, and will be asked to use it for a period of 30 days; or (2) the control group, in which they will be placed on a waitlist to use the app. After a period of 3
The aim of this project is to conduct a randomised controlled trial of a novel smartphone application designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of junior doctors in Australia. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: (1) the experimental group, in which they will be provided with a link to download the app, and will be asked to use it for a period of 30 days; or (2) the control group, in which they will be placed on a waitlist to use the app. After a period of 3 months, the participants in the control group will also gain access to the app, and will be asked to use it for 30 days. After participants are provided with a link to download the Shift app on their smartphone, they will be able to use the app freely. The intervention is completely remote, meaning that the researchers will not physically contact the participants in any way. The Shift modules include content covering topics on Mental Health, Getting Help, Lifestyle and Work. Other components of the Shift app include a tracking function for monitoring mood, physical activity, work-life balance and sleep. The contents of the app are delivered through video, audio, graphical representation, and text displays. These modules are based on recognised, evidence-based psychological approaches including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and stress-management. Thus, the app provides therapeutic, psychoeducational content and strategies contextualised for the specific needs of doctors in training. The app will automatically record generic usage data such as number of logins, time spent on app contents, and how many times the tracker function was used (to track mood, exercise, sleep and/or work-life balance). Data will be stored on the Black Dog Institute’s Research Engine, which is part of UNSW-owned and run secure servers. 30 days after registration, the participant will be asked to complete a post-intervention questionnaire, regardless of whether they were placed in the experimental group or the control group. All participants will also be asked to complete a follow-up questionnaire at 3 months after registration.
Sponsors
UNSW Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria for participants taking part in this study includes: 1. Willing to provide consent to participate 2. Currently employed as a doctor in training in Australia (interns, hospital medical officers, resident medical officers, non-accredited trainees, postgraduate trainees, principal house officers, registrars, and specialist trainees. Career medical officers who intend to undertake further postgraduate training in medicine can also participate.) 3. Ownership of an internet-enabled smartphone that has an Apple or Android operating system
Exclusion criteria
Candidates will be excluded from the study if they: - Do not provide consent to participate, or - Are not currently employed as a doctor in training in Australia, or - Do not own an internet-enabled smartphone with an Apple or Android operating system.
Outcome results
None listed