Effectiveness of Hybrid Learning Mode of Volunteer Training

Education University of Hong Kong

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy Volunteer

Treatments: Behavioral: Hybrid volunteer training programme

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05686291

2021-2022-0403

Details and patient eligibility

About

As the effectiveness of the hybrid volunteer training in Hong Kong is under-studied, this experimental study aims to develop a hybrid learning mode of volunteer training that increase volunteering-related self-efficacy and its associated outcomes among volunteer. In particular, this study compares the efficacy of hybrid volunteer training with the wait-list control group.

The volunteer training will consist of a 6-module online course, followed by 5 face-to-face courses. Each module will consist of the key volunteer training component presented in in written or video format. Materials will be presented interactively to facilitate engagement.

Full description

Mental illness poses a challenge to public mental health services because of its high prevalence, symptom chronicity, and impacts on patients and society. Although there is a huge amount of need to serve people with mental illness, there is insufficient manpower. There is much empirical evidence to support the volunteer programs for people with mental illness. However, the literature on hybrid volunteer training is mainly focused on teaching and learning in education, and the effectiveness of the hybrid volunteer training in Hong Kong is under-studied. Therefore, The present study aims to compare the efficacy of hybrid volunteer training with the wait-list control group. We hypothesize that (1) participants who receive hybrid volunteer training will increase their self-efficacy of volunteering after the intervention as compared with the wait-list controls; (2) participants from hybrid volunteer training will have better mental health knowledge and less mental health-related stigmatized beliefs and behavior after the intervention as compared with the wait-list controls.

The volunteer training will consist of a 6-module online course, followed by 5 face-to-face courses, incorporating the key volunteer training components, including Keyes theory, bio-psycho-social model, stress bucket model, recovery model and CHIME model. Each module will consist of the key volunteer training component presented in in written or video format. Materials will be presented interactively to facilitate engagement.

Enrollment: 64 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Hong Kong residents
• Age ≥18 years
• Willing to participate in volunteer service
• Being able to read Chinese
• Have a computer, tablet and/or smartphone device with Internet access
• Have a regular email address
• Willing to give informed consent and comply with the trial protocol

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to communicate with Cantonese.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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64 participants in 2 patient groups

Treatment group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the treatment condition start the online volunteer training immediately after randomization and completed the online module within 2-week. Then they are invited to attend the face-to-face training within 1-week. They will complete the post-intervention assessment right after they finish the face-to-face training, and be invited to participate in an interview.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Hybrid volunteer training programme

Wait-list control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in the waitlist control group will wait for 4 weeks without the training and then complete the post-intervention assessment. The waitlist control participants will start training (equivalent to that of the treatment group) immediately after completing the post-intervention assessment.