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Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
A novel multi-component online intervention to improve the mental health of university students: Randomised controlled trial of the Uni Virtual Clinic
Internet Interventions, Vol.18, pp.1-10
2019
PMCID: PMC6926241
PMID: 31890625
Abstract
Background:
Of the millions of students enrolled in university, up to 50% will experience a mental disorder. Many of these students do not seek help, and for those who do, university-based services are often over-burdened. Anonymous, evidence-based, online interventions can improve students’ access to mental health support. The Uni Virtual Clinic (UVC) is a transdiagnostic online mental health program designed specifically for university students. This paper reports on a randomised controlled trial examining the effectiveness of the UVC in a sample of Australian university students.
Methods:
University students with elevated psychological distress (K10>15; n = 200) were randomised to the UVC intervention or a waitlist control condition for a period of 6 weeks. Baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up surveys assessed depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, quality of life, adherence, and satisfaction with the UVC intervention.
Results:
Mixed models analysis demonstrated that use of the UVC was associated with small significant reductions in social anxiety and small improvements in academic self-efficacy. The program was not effective in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or psychological distress compared to a control group. The majority of participants in the intervention condition who were retained at follow-up engaged with the program, and most of these participants reported satisfaction with the UVC.
Discussion:
The results suggest that multi-component online interventions such as the UVC have utility in a university environment. Future trials of the UVC should examine the impact of guidance and/or tailoring on treatment efficacy, and the potential role of the UVC in a stepped care model incorporating on-campus services.
Details
- Title
- A novel multi-component online intervention to improve the mental health of university students: Randomised controlled trial of the Uni Virtual Clinic
- Authors
- Louise M. Farrer (Corresponding Author) - Australian National UniversityAmelia Gulliver (Author) - Australian National UniversityNatasha Katruss (Author) - Australian National UniversityDaniel B. Fassnacht (Author) - Australian National UniversityMichael Kyrios (Author) - Australian National UniversityPhilip J. Batterham (Author) - Australian National University
- Publication details
- Internet Interventions, Vol.18, pp.1-10
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Date published
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.invent.2019.100276
- ISSN
- 2214-7829
- PMID
- 31890625; PMC6926241
- Copyright note
- © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/).
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Psychology
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99727712902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Health Care Sciences & Services
- Medical Informatics
- Psychiatry
- Psychology, Clinical
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