Raising Awareness of Online Therapies for Depression: Pilot Study

University of Plymouth

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Depression

Treatments: Other: Local organisation websites; Other: Google Adwords

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01469689

RR103348-101

Details and patient eligibility

About

Web based cognitive behavioural therapy (webCBT) for depression is recommended by NICE but analysis of the geographic distribution of one webCBT site showed 15-fold variation in use across Britain. Such variation is unlikely to be from differences in prevalence. Raising awareness of webCBT could benefit many people with depression but it is not clear how direct-to-patient promotion online or via the media, compares with GP centred methods. This pilot cluster randomised controlled trial will explore the use of online methods to raise awareness in preparation for subsequent study comparing different approaches.

In a pilot cluster randomised trial the investigators will explore the feasibility and likely impact of online methods of raising awareness of webCBT, assessing how many people with depression respond to geographically restricted Google and local website advertisements. The investigators will explore costs of recruitment and define and document the best online methods that might subsequently be used in a definitive trial comparing online with mass media and GP centred methods for raising awareness. The investigators will compare intervention with control areas to estimate impact on registration levels and compare rate of completion of webCBT of these 'additional' registrants with other registrants. Recommendations will be made for a subsequent trial comparing online with other methods.

Enrollment: 8,231 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• people living in Britain searching for online help for depression

Exclusion Criteria:

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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8,231 participants in 4 patient groups

Google Adwords only

Experimental group

Description:

In these areas,the investigators will display online adverts using Google Adwords, with links to the investigators' project website, and from there to four other websites for depression.

Treatment:

Other: Google Adwords

Local organisation websites

Experimental group

Description:

In these areas, the investigators will try to place adverts on the websites of local organizations, with links to the investigators' project website, and from there to four other websites for depression.

Treatment:

Other: Local organisation websites

Google Ads and local websites

Experimental group

Description:

In these areas, the investigators will place Google Adwords and also try to place adverts on the websites of local organizations, with links to the investigators' project website, and from there to four other websites for depression.

Treatment:

Other: Local organisation websites

Other: Google Adwords

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Control areas. No Intervention