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Evidence Based Mental Wellness Programming Online for Adults Across Chronic Physical Conditions

Evidence Based Mental Wellness Programming Online for Adults Across Chronic Physical Conditions (EMPOwer) Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05786482
Acronym
EMPOwer
Enrollment
825
Registered
2023-03-27
Start date
2023-02-12
Completion date
2024-12-01
Last updated
2026-05-08

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

Conditions

Cancer, Chronic Kidney Diseases, Cirrhosis, Liver, Digestive Diseases, Heart Failure, Other Chronic Physical Condition, Post-Transplant, Primary Biliary Cholangitis, Women Who Have Experienced a Cardiac Event

Keywords

Mind Body Wellness, Depression, Anxiety, Quality of Life, Wellbeing, Yoga, Meditation, Psychology

Brief summary

Chronic physical conditions are defined as conditions that require ongoing management and treatment over extended periods of time. Chronic physical conditions are not only leading causes of death and disability in North America but they are commonly associated with mental distress and reduced quality of life. Online mind-body wellness programming ranging from physical activity to mindfulness interventions has been shown to be effective in improving mental wellness in a variety of chronic disease populations, but there is a need to evaluate scalable ways to deliver these programs. Building upon a previously developed online wellness program for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), the research team has developed a mind-body wellness program for adults ≥18 years of age living with different chronic conditions (e.g., cirrhosis, PBC, heart failure). The 12-week program will be delivered online, and include follow- along mindful movement, breathwork and meditation routines, and a psychology based coping skills program. In a three-armed randomized controlled trial, the study will assess the impact on the primary outcome of anxiety and depression as measured through the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). At the beginning and the end of the 12-week research study, participants will complete surveys to assess secondary/exploratory outcome measures including quality of life, fatigue, frailty, demoralization, and healthcare usage. After the program, the research team will conduct interviews with participants to allow them to share their other feedback about the program. The researchers will also send surveys to the participants eight weeks after the program ends to assess longer- term impacts on primary and secondary outcomes.

Interventions

Online program (mindful movement, meditation, breathwork, psychology-based coping skills program)

BEHAVIORALOnline mind-body wellness program + Weekly Check-ins

Online program (mindful movement, meditation, breathwork, psychology-based coping skills program) + brief weekly check-ins

Sponsors

University of Alberta
Lead SponsorOTHER
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
CollaboratorOTHER_GOV

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Adults ≥18 years of age * Identified diagnosis of one of nine chronic conditions (Heart Failure, PBC, Digestive Disease, Cirrhosis, Cancer survivor, Post-transplant, Women who have experienced a cardiac event, Chronic Kidney Disease), or another general category for physical chronic conditions not captured by these nine * English language proficiency to complete questionnaires and read the educational material * Access to the Internet and a computer or smart device at home

Exclusion criteria

* Receiving compassionate care * Inability to provide informed written consent * Severe psychiatric disorders (presence of uncontrolled schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and/or bipolar disorder unless approved to participate by their physician/psychologist; suicidality nearly every day) * No access to the internet

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)12 weeksDepression and anxiety will be measured on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The minimum value is 0, the maximum is 21, and higher scores mean a worse outcome.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS)12 weeksThe Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) assesses the effect of fatigue on cognitive functioning, physical functioning, and psychosocial functioning. The minimum value is 0, the maximum value is 84, and higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Health Related Quality of Life12 weeksHealth related quality of life captured by the quality-of-life Short Form Survey 12 (SF-12). The minimum value is 0, the maximum value is 100, and a higher score means a better outcome.
EQ-5D-5L12 weeksCost utility analysis will be facilitated by the EQ-5D-5L which consists of 5- dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression) where patients are asked to indicate their health state. The minimum value is 5, the maximum value is 25, and a higher score means a worse outcome.
Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behaviour (COM-B) Survey12 weeksCapability, opportunity, and motivation for behaviour change will be measured on the COM-B survey. The lowest score is 0, the highest score is 60, and higher scores indicate better outcomes.
Satisfaction and Adherence12 weeksSatisfaction and adherence will be measured using a self-report tool where participants indicate their satisfaction with program elements, and perceived adherence to the program over the study period. The minimum value is 4, the maximum value is 40, and a higher score means a better outcome.

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 22, 2026