Evaluation of Online Video Counselling

Swinburne University of Technology

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Videoconferencing

Treatments: Behavioral: Traditional in-person counselling; Behavioral: Online video-based counselling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT03053934

OVC-2016

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objective of the study is to establish whether online video counselling is at least equally acceptable and equally as effective to clients and clinicians of the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) as in-person counselling. If this is confirmed by the evaluation then online video counselling can be made more widely available to support the veteran and ex-service community, especially for those who may otherwise be unable to attend therapy and for clients who would prefer such web-based services over in-person sessions.

Enrollment: 400 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Currently residing in Australia
• Eligible to receive support from the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS)
• Aged between 18 and 65
• Home access to broadband internet
• Own a device (e.g., computer, laptop, or tablet) that has a webcam and can support videoconferencing
• Be able to reasonably travel to a VVCS centre to access counselling
• Referred for one-to-one counselling or therapy
• Be willing and able to receive either modality of treatment (i.e., online or in-person counselling).

Exclusion criteria

• Not currently residing in Australia
• Not eligible to receive support from VVCS
• Significant current risk issues or levels of acute distress requiring crisis management
• Current serving member of the Australian Defence Force with a high security clearance (above Baseline Vetting)
• Referred for couple or family counselling.
• Have received a psychiatric diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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400 participants in 2 patient groups

Traditional in-person

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants randomised to this arm will receive traditional in-person counselling (i.e., treatment will be conducted with the client and clinician occupying the same physical location/room)

Treatment:

Behavioral: Traditional in-person counselling

Online counselling

Experimental group

Description:

Participants randomised to this arm will receive treatment from a clinician via videoconferencing (i.e., communication between the client and clinician will occur via webcam)

Treatment:

Behavioral: Online video-based counselling