Effectiveness of a Waitlist App "Stappvoorstap" During Mental Healthcare Waiting Times
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorGGZ Centraal
About this trial
This study evaluates the effectiveness of Stappvoorstap, a mobile self-management application designed for adults on mental health waiting lists in the Netherlands. The app helps users monitor daily stress levels, recognize personal stress patterns, and provides coping strategies, relaxation exercises, and supportive resources. Using a multiple baseline single-case experimental design, participants use the app for 4 weeks while completing weekly questionnaires measuring perceived stress, coping self-efficacy, and quality of life. The study aims to determine whether the app can reduce stress and improve wellbeing during the waiting period before mental healthcare treatment begins.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Currently on a waiting list at a mental health organization in the Netherlands.
Aged 18 years or older
Owns a smartphone and has the ability to operate it
Sufficient proficiency in Dutch or English language (at least B1 level)
Disqualifiers
Currently enrolled in another medical-scientific research study
Trial design
Design model
Single group
Treatments tested in this trial
Stappvoorstap: mobile self-management waitlist intervention
BehavioralStappvoorstap is a free mobile self-management application developed in co-creation with mental health waitlist clients. The app measures daily stress levels 2-4 times per day through short questionnaires, creates visual overviews of personal stress patterns on daily and weekly scales, provides real-time coping suggestions, offers mindfulness and relaxation exercises (breathing exercises, meditation, nature sounds, calming music), and includes informational articles and personal experience stories.
Treatment groups
54 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groupsGroup A: Group 1: 3-week baselineExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Group 2: 4-week baselineExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group C: Group 3: 5-week baselineExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Change in Perceived Stress
Measured using the Perceived Stress Scale with 10 items (PSS-10). The PSS-10 is a validated self-report questionnaire assessing how stressful situations were perceived in the past week. Items are rated on a 5-point scale (1=never to 5=very often). Higher scores indicate higher perceived stress. Change from baseline phase to intervention phase, and to follow-up will be assessed.
Time frame
Weekly measurements for 10-12 weeks (depending on group assignment)Secondary outcomes
1
Change in Coping Self-Efficacy
Measured using the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale with 13 items (CSES-13). The CSES-13 measures confidence in coping behaviors across three subscales: problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and social support coping. Items are rated on a 10-point scale (0=cannot do at all to 10=certainly can do). Higher scores indicate greater coping self-efficacy.
Time frame
Weekly measurements for 10-12 weeks (depending on group assignment)2
Change in Quality of Life
Measured using selected domains of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF): physical health (7 items), psychological health (6 items), and social relationships (3 items), plus 2 items on overall quality of life and general health. Items rated on 5-point Likert scales. Higher scores indicate better quality of life.
Time frame
Weekly measurements for 10-12 weeks (depending on group assignment)Other outcomes
1
User Experience and Perceived Usefulness
Semi-structured interview assessing participants' experiences with the Stappvoorstap app, including perceived usefulness, usability, barriers and facilitators, and suggestions for improvement. Open-ended questions explore how participants integrated the app into daily life and their overall satisfaction.
Time frame
After completion of the 4-week intervention periodSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
GGZ Centraal
Lead sponsor
Leiden University Medical Center
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov