Mental health outcomes (including depression, anxiety, burnout, loneliness, and resilience) among health workers in Malawi Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Conditions
Interventions
The study is a two-arm, parallel randomized controlled trial with a pre-treatment assessment, 8-week intervention period and mid-study assessments at 4-5 weeks and an end-of-study assessment at 9 week
all participants in both study arms will be told they are participating in ‘an online self-help for mental wellbeing’.
Originating from Brazil, Vitalk is an automated chatbot delivering mental health
Seligman, 1998
Wills, 2009). Only the treatment
Sponsors
Chemonics International
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Currently employed as one of the types of service providers (cadres) listed: doctors, nurses, medical assistants, clinical officers, laboratory technicians, physiotherapy technicians, pharmacists, physiotherapists 2. Employed in public or private primary, secondary, or tertiary care facility in Blantyre and Lilongwe districts of Malawi 3. Possess some degree of English language proficiency 4. Own a smartphone with an Android operating system 5. No history – past or current – of counseling or therapy for severe mental health disorders 6. Not have self-reported suicidal ideation 7. Score below “very high risk” levels on the initial assessments for anxiety and depression 8. Diploma in their respective fields of specialization, in adherence to the Ministry of Health employment criteria for the respective cadres of health workers (Medical Assistants who completed 2 years of college will be allowed to participate even though their qualification is a certificate) 9. Adults (18 years or older)
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. All other hospital- or health-related personnel, such as health surveillance assistants, hospital assistants or laboratory assistants, due to their lower educational qualification requirement for employment. 2. Health workers with a history – past or current – of counseling or therapy for a severe mental disorder 3. All study applicants at “very high risk” of depression and anxiety according to their initial scores from standard mental health tests 4. Participants who check suicidal ideation in question nine of the PHQ-9
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Measurements at baseline, 4-5 weeks, and 9 weeks: 1. Anxiety symptoms are measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale. 2. Depression symptoms are measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). 3. Burnout is measured using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI). 4. Loneliness is measured using the UCLA Short Loneliness Scale. 5. Resilience is measured using the 14-item Resilience Scale (RS-14). | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Resilience building behaviors measured through questionnaires in Vitalk at baseline, 4-5 weeks, and 9 weeks 2. Frequency and use of treatment app and control website, measured throughout the trial through app and website usage data 3. Qualitative patient experiences measured using an anonymous online survey at 9 weeks | — |
Countries
Malawi
Contacts
Public ContactKaty Gorentz
Outcome results
None listed