Internet AddictionNCT05906108
WeChat-based Intervention for Internet Addiction
A study testing Self-initiated learning, Personalized and interactive behavioural support and General health information in people with Internet Addiction, run by Prof. Wang Man-Ping at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
The study aims to design an integrated model which combined self-initiated online learning and personalized interactive behavioral support delivered via WeChat for university students to reduce internet addiction level. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Internet Addiction
- What is being tested?
- Self-initiated learning, Personalized and interactive behavioural support and General health information
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 10 Mar 2023to 30 Dec 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 1). Currently a full-time university student in HK;
- 2). Aged 18-25 years;
- 3). Internet Addiction Test (IAT) > 50;
- 4). Able to understand and communicate in Chinese;
- 5). Own a smartphone can access internet and proficiency in using WeChat;
Who cannot join
- 1) Currently participating in other internet addiction controlling projects or services;
- 2) Experiencing psychiatric/psychological diseases or receiving regular psychotropic medication.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Hong Kong1 site
School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Please Select, 000000
About this study
Official title: An Integrated WeChat-based Intervention for University Students With Internet Addiction: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
The study aims to design an integrated model which combined self-initiated online learning and personalized interactive behavioral support delivered via WeChat for university students to reduce internet addiction level.
Read the detailed description
Internet addiction (IA), also described as pathological or problematic internet use, or internet addiction disorders, refers to a pattern of excessive internet use, and it is a new form of behavioral addiction. There are multiple subtypes of IA including excessive online gaming, sexual preoccupations and excessive messages. The excessive use of internet often generates distress or impairments, and evidence showing IA is accompanied by numerous negative impact physically, psychologically and socially such as ADHD, interpersonal sensitivity4, depression and anxiety, family discord, social problems. Pervious study also suggested IA has a significant correlation with academic performance decrement among students, who were considered as a particular vulnerable population being addicted to internet due to easy access to internet, flexible schedule, positive social atmosphere for computer/smartphone use and lack of parental supervision of internet use. IA is a relatively recent and widespread phenomenon. It was estimated 11% Chinese university students were addicted to internet, and an increase in internet use among Chinese children and adolescents was observed amid the COVID-19 epidemic.
IA is believed have some similarities with substance addiction (e.g. smoking, alcohol drinking and drug abuse) as subjects would undergo same symptoms such as depressed, anxious and lonely, affect neurobiology system with common mechanism, and both suffer from substance withdrawal. The interventions for substance addiction have been adopted to treat IA with promising effect including pharmacotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), family-based intervention and motivational interviewing, while the treatment for IA has not been standardized yet. In view of the similar characteristics of IA with substance addiction, brief advice and mobile phone-based personalized behavioral support could be feasible to treat IA which has been proven effective in our previous community-based smoking cessation trial, and the COVID-19 epidemic increased the acceptance of mHealth interventions.
The specific objectives are:
- . To examine the effectiveness of the integrated model in reducing IA in university students;
- . To assess the acceptability and feasibility of using the model.
- Conditions
- Internet Addiction
- Being tested
- Self-initiated learning, Personalized and interactive behavioural support, General health information
- Keywords
- Internet addiction, University students, WeChat-based
- Medical subject headings
- Internet Addiction Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Self-initiated learningBehavioural
A WeChat Subscription will be created for delivering the intervention. The educational materials involving introduction to internet addiction, the impact of internet addiction and strategies in coping with IA will be posted to the account at the beginning of the intervention. The materials will be prepared in different format including text and video followed by 3 to 5 multiple choice questions (MCQs), and one post for one topic. Relevant materials can be found by typing the keywords in the account or searching under the content list. Participants will be required to follow the account to study the materials at their own pace and complete the MCQs. There will be no limited access to the materials and attempts for MCQs.
Personalized and interactive behavioural supportBehavioural
The intervention group will receive 3-month personalized and interactive behavioural support via WeChat, which including regular messages and real-time conversation. The regular messages will cover the generic information about abstinence support, health warnings, benefits of reducing internet time, knowledge reinforcement, goal setting, encouragement and reminders for self-initiated online learning. The messages will be personalised according to baseline demographic characteristics and internet addiction level, and continually adapted to any change in internet behaviours change reported by subjects during the conversations. A total of 19 messages with a tapering schedule. Personalized real-time conversation via WeChat will be available based on participants' demand.
General health informationBehavioural
Participants in control group will receive WeChat messages on general health information (similar frequency as the intervention group) and reminders on follow-up surveys via WeChat. Various topics will be involved in the general health information such as healthy diet, sleep management, exercise and mood management.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Experimental | WeChat-based self-initiated learning, personalized and interactive behavioural support Receives: Behavioral: Self-initiated learning; Behavioral: Personalized and interactive behavioural support |
| Control group | Active comparator | General health information Receives: Behavioral: General health information |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
internet addiction score
The primary outcome will be the internet addiction score change assessed by Internet Addiction Test (IAT) which is the most valid instrument for IA assessment. The test contains 20 items which rated on a 5 point Likert Scale (1 point refers to rarely, and 5 point refers to always). Score higher than 50 is considered as experiencing occasional or frequent problems because of internet, and the impact on daily life should be aware
Measured: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Secondary outcomes (7)
Online hours per week
The daily online hours will be self-estimated and reported. The sum of the online hours will be calculated every 7 days as the total online hours per week.
Measured: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Sleep time
The daily sleeping time will be self-estimated and reported.
Measured: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Physical activity level
The physical activity will be measured using International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
Measured: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Self-rated health
Self-reported health status will be measured using a single-item scale (in general, would you say that your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?")
Measured: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Depression and anxiety
The Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) will be used to measure depression and anxiety. The 4-item questionnaire consists of a 2-item depression sub-scale and 2-item anxiety sub-scale. The questions are answered on a four-point Likert Scale. The sum of the scores is categorized into normal (0-2), mild (3-5), moderate (6-8) and severe (9-12). The total score of 3 or greater on each sub-scale suggest depression or anxiety, respectively.
Measured: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Perceived happiness
A single-item scale (do you feel happy in general?) on an 11-point Likert Scale (0-10) which has been demonstrated valid and reliable in measuring happiness will be used.
Measured: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Academic performance
Participant's academic performance will be assessed by " In general, would you say your academic performance is Excellent/Very good/Good/Fair/Poor?
Measured: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Jun 2023
- Study start10 Mar 2023
- Primary completion30 Nov 2023
- Study completion30 Dec 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Internet AddictionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Prof. Wang Man-Ping
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Prof. Wang Man-Ping, The University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05906108
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SF IA
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 6 Jun 2023
- Last updated
- 31 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 31 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An Integrated WeChat-based Intervention for University Students With Internet Addiction: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05906108
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SF IA
- Conditions
- Internet Addiction
- Keywords
- Internet addiction, University students, WeChat-based
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Prof. Wang Man-PingUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The study aims to design an integrated model which combined self-initiated online learning and personalized interactive behavioral support delivered via WeChat for university students to reduce internet addiction level.
Detailed description
Internet addiction (IA), also described as pathological or problematic internet use, or internet addiction disorders, refers to a pattern of excessive internet use, and it is a new form of behavioral addiction. There are multiple subtypes of IA including excessive online gaming, sexual preoccupations and excessive messages. The excessive use of internet often generates distress or impairments, and evidence showing IA is accompanied by numerous negative impact physically, psychologically and socially such as ADHD, interpersonal sensitivity4, depression and anxiety, family discord, social problems. Pervious study also suggested IA has a significant correlation with academic performance decrement among students, who were considered as a particular vulnerable population being addicted to internet due to easy access to internet, flexible schedule, positive social atmosphere for computer/smartphone use and lack of parental supervision of internet use. IA is a relatively recent and widespread phenomenon. It was estimated 11% Chinese university students were addicted to internet, and an increase in internet use among Chinese children and adolescents was observed amid the COVID-19 epidemic.
IA is believed have some similarities with substance addiction (e.g. smoking, alcohol drinking and drug abuse) as subjects would undergo same symptoms such as depressed, anxious and lonely, affect neurobiology system with common mechanism, and both suffer from substance withdrawal. The interventions for substance addiction have been adopted to treat IA with promising effect including pharmacotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), family-based intervention and motivational interviewing, while the treatment for IA has not been standardized yet. In view of the similar characteristics of IA with substance addiction, brief advice and mobile phone-based personalized behavioral support could be feasible to treat IA which has been proven effective in our previous community-based smoking cessation trial, and the COVID-19 epidemic increased the acceptance of mHealth interventions.
The specific objectives are:
- . To examine the effectiveness of the integrated model in reducing IA in university students;
- . To assess the acceptability and feasibility of using the model.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Experimental | Behavioral: Self-initiated learning, Behavioral: Personalized and interactive behavioural supportWeChat-based self-initiated learning, personalized and interactive behavioural support |
| Control group | Active comparator | Behavioral: General health informationGeneral health information |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 1). Currently a full-time university student in HK;
- 2). Aged 18-25 years;
- 3). Internet Addiction Test (IAT) > 50;
- 4). Able to understand and communicate in Chinese;
- 5). Own a smartphone can access internet and proficiency in using WeChat;
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 1) Currently participating in other internet addiction controlling projects or services;
- 2) Experiencing psychiatric/psychological diseases or receiving regular psychotropic medication.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Self-initiated learningA WeChat Subscription will be created for delivering the intervention. The educational materials involving introduction to internet addiction, the impact of internet addiction and strategies in coping with IA will be posted to the account at the beginning of the intervention. The materials will be prepared in different format including text and video followed by 3 to 5 multiple choice questions (MCQs), and one post for one topic. Relevant materials can be found by typing the keywords in the account or searching under the content list. Participants will be required to follow the account to study the materials at their own pace and complete the MCQs. There will be no limited access to the materials and attempts for MCQs. | Behavioural | Intervention group |
| Personalized and interactive behavioural supportThe intervention group will receive 3-month personalized and interactive behavioural support via WeChat, which including regular messages and real-time conversation. The regular messages will cover the generic information about abstinence support, health warnings, benefits of reducing internet time, knowledge reinforcement, goal setting, encouragement and reminders for self-initiated online learning. The messages will be personalised according to baseline demographic characteristics and internet addiction level, and continually adapted to any change in internet behaviours change reported by subjects during the conversations. A total of 19 messages with a tapering schedule. Personalized real-time conversation via WeChat will be available based on participants' demand. | Behavioural | Intervention group |
| General health informationParticipants in control group will receive WeChat messages on general health information (similar frequency as the intervention group) and reminders on follow-up surveys via WeChat. Various topics will be involved in the general health information such as healthy diet, sleep management, exercise and mood management. | Behavioural | Control group |
Primary outcome
internet addiction score
Time frame: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
The primary outcome will be the internet addiction score change assessed by Internet Addiction Test (IAT) which is the most valid instrument for IA assessment. The test contains 20 items which rated on a 5 point Likert Scale (1 point refers to rarely, and 5 point refers to always). Score higher than 50 is considered as experiencing occasional or frequent problems because of internet, and the impact on daily life should be aware
7 secondary outcomes
Online hours per week
Time frame: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Sleep time
Time frame: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Physical activity level
Time frame: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Self-rated health
Time frame: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Depression and anxiety
Time frame: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Perceived happiness
Time frame: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Academic performance
Time frame: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 31 Jul 2025.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Self-initiated learning, Personalized and interactive behavioural support and General health information in people with Internet Addiction, run by Prof. Wang Man-Ping at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
internet addiction score (time frame: at 1-, 3- and 6-month after baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 Jul 2025.