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StudiCare procrastination - Randomized controlled non-inferiority trial of a persuasive design-optimized internet- and mobile-based intervention with digital coach targeting procrastination in college students.
Mutter, Agnes; Küchler, A-M; Idrees, A R; Kählke, F; Terhorst, Y; Baumeister, H.
Afiliação
  • Mutter A; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Engineering, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany. agnes.mutter@uni-ulm.de.
  • Küchler AM; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Engineering, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
  • Idrees AR; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Engineering, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
  • Kählke F; Institute of Databases and Information Systems (DBIS), Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
  • Terhorst Y; Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Professorship of Psychology and Digital Mental Health Care, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
  • Baumeister H; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Engineering, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
BMC Psychol ; 11(1): 273, 2023 Sep 12.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37700387
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Academic procrastination is widespread among college students. Procrastination is strongly negatively correlated with psychological well-being, thus early interventions are needed. Internet- and mobile-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) could provide a low-threshold treatment option. Human guidance seems to be a decisive mechanism of change in iCBT. Persuasive design optimization of iCBT and guidance by a digital coach might represent a resource-saving alternative. The study evaluated the non-inferiority of a digital coach in comparison to human guidance with regard to the primary outcome procrastination.

METHODS:

The iCBT StudiCare procrastination was optimized by principles of the Persuasive System Design (PSD). A total of 233 college students were randomly assigned to either StudiCare procrastination guided by a digital coach (intervention group, IG) or by a human eCoach (control group, CG). All participants were assessed at baseline, 4-, 8- and 12-weeks post-randomization. Symptom change and between-group differences were assessed with latent growth curve models and supported by effect size levels. The non-inferiority margin was set at Cohen's d = - 0.3.

RESULTS:

The primary outcome procrastination measured by the Irrational Procrastination scale (IPS) significantly decreased across groups (γ = - 0.79, p < .001, Cohen's d = -0.43 to -0.89) from baseline to 12-weeks post-randomization. There were no significant differences between groups (γ = -0.03, p = .84, Cohen's d = -0.03 to 0.08). Regarding symptoms of depression, no significant time x group effect was found (γ = 0.26, p = .09; Cohen's d = -0.15 to 0.21). There was also no significant time x group effect on the improvement of symptoms of anxiety (γ = 0.25, p = .09). However, Cohen's ds were above the non-inferiority margin 8-weeks (Cohen's d = 0.51) and 12-weeks post-randomization (Cohen's d = 0.37), preferring the CG. Of the IG, 34% and of the CG, 36% completed 80% of the modules.

CONCLUSIONS:

The PSD optimized version of StudiCare procrastination is effective in reducing procrastination. The digital coach was not inferior to human guidance. Guidance by a digital coach in iCBT against procrastination for college students could be a resource-saving alternative to human guidance. TRIAL REGISTRATION The trial was registered at the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform via the German Clinical Trial Register (ID DRKS00025209, 30/04/2021).
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Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Procrastinação Tipo de estudo: Clinical_trials / Guideline Limite: Humans Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2023 Tipo de documento: Article

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Procrastinação Tipo de estudo: Clinical_trials / Guideline Limite: Humans Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2023 Tipo de documento: Article