Investigating iBroadway: An online social anxiety treatment for adolescents who stutter.

This study is a randomised control trial reviewing the efficacy, client compliance and safety of a standalone, online treatment for adolescents who stutter known as iBroadway. The treatment provided by iBroadway is a modified version of iGlebe, a well-researched Cognitive Behavioural Treatment for adolescents who stutter developed by researchers at the Australian Stuttering Research Centre. Participants will be randomised to one of two groups: Experimental: Participants will gain access to the online cognitive behaviour treatment (iBroadway) Control / Waitlist Group: Participants will gain access to iBroadway after the 8month data collection. The online cognitive behaviour treatment program is known as iBroadway. The iBroadway program is designed to reduce or eliminate social anxiety in adolescents aged 11-17yrs who stutter. The treatment is completely online without any input from live clinicians. iBroadway has seven modules. Participants complete the prescribed activities associated with each module before progressing to the next module. The first stage of the program involves developing an individualised profile for each participant. This is achieved by having the participant complete an online battery of assessments, The Unhelpful Thoughts and Beliefs About Stuttering: Adolescent scale (UTBAS-A), Avoidance of Speaking Situations questionnaire, Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS:A), The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D). These assessments are designed to comprehensively identify cognitive errors common to those who stutter, such as “people focus on every word I say,” “I won’t be able to keep a job if I stutter,” and “everyone in the room will hear me stutter.” The resultant profile is then used to design specific and individualised activities for each participant throughout the program. Instructions for each activity are given both in text on the screen and with pre-recorded spoken instructions from three different, highly specialised psychologists with extensive experience treating anxiety. Participants work through the activities at their own pace. Activities include behavioural experiments, cognitive restructuring, attention training, and writing tasks. Participants have access to iBroadway for 5 months. Research has shown this to be adequate time to complete the program. Participants work at their own pace through each of the modules. The time spent working through each module can vary depending on participant responses to the initial questionnaires and the time they spend working on the activities and tasks. Participants can choose to repeat tasks as well. It is recommended that participants log into the program at least weekly. The teaching components for each module is expected to take between 1 and 2 hours depending on the module. Once the participant completes the last module they can download a Superhero comic book / video summary of the program’s content. The online treatment program is provided free of charge however the research project will not fund any costs associated with continuing any treatment at the conclusion of their participation. Adherence to iBroadway will be provided from data generated within the program and consists of dates of first login, date of login for each new module, date and page of last login. To assess preliminary treatment outcomes participants will complete questionnaires relating to stuttering and satisfaction with communication pre-treatment and post-treatment.