Depression, AnxietyEMPOWERNCT06910748
An Online Guided Self-help Intervention to Improve Common Mental Health Problems Among Medical Professionals
A study testing E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (E.M.P.O.W.E.R.) and Education Materials in people with Depression, Anxiety, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an online guided self-help intervention developed based on Problem Solving Therapy (PST) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which are both transdiagnostic low-intensity interventions recommended by the World Health Organization, in… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Depression, Anxiety
- What is being tested?
- E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (E.M.P.O.W.E.R.) and Education Materials
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 161 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 31 Mar 2025to 28 May 2026
- 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 60 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- (1) being a frontline medical professional working in local public settings;
- (2) at least 18 years of age;
- (3) able to read and understand Chinese;
- (4) have access to the Internet; and
- (5) Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and/or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) score>=5, indicating at least mild levels of depression and/or anxiety.
Who cannot join
- actively suicidal.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Hong Kong1 site
JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK
Hong Kong, China, No postal code
About this study
Official title: E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (E.M.P.O.W.E.R.) - An Online Guided Self-help Intervention to Improve Common Mental Health Problems Among Medical Professionals : A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an online guided self-help intervention developed based on Problem Solving Therapy (PST) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which are both transdiagnostic low-intensity interventions recommended by the World Health Organization, in improving medical professionals' mental health.
Read the detailed description
Despite the high prevalence of common mental health problems among medical professionals (MPs), their help-seeking for mental health support is low. Existing interventions are empirically effective but practically challenging to be applied in Hong Kong given the long intervention hours and fixed schedule. New interventions are needed to cater for the unique needs of local MPs.
Objectives: An online guided self-help intervention for MPs, E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (the EMPOWER program), will be developed based on Problem Solving Therapy (PST) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which are both transdiagnostic low-intensity interventions recommended by the World Health Organization. Targeted at local MPs aged 18-60 with depression and/or anxiety symptoms, the intervention aims to reduce their symptoms through strengthening coping skills for work-related problems. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted to evaluate (1) the intervention's efficacy in reducing depression/anxiety compared with an active control (education pamphlets); (2) its efficacy in improving the levels of PTSD symptoms, well-being, burnout, and work performance versus active control; (3) the potential mediators/mechanisms explaining any between-group differences.
Method: 120 participants will be recruited online. The EMPOWER group will receive four 30-min self-paced weekly intervention sessions. The active control group will receive four weekly education pamphlets. Data will be collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention and 1-month follow-up. The group effect will be examined by comparing the mean improvement scores and remission rates on the outcome variables among the two groups. The potential mediation effects of problem solving and psychological flexibility between the two groups and the outcomes will also be tested.
Expected outcomes: The investigators expect (1) greater reductions in depression and/or anxiety as well as levels of PTSD, well-being, burnout, and work performance for the EMPOWER group at post-treatment and 1-month follow-up than active control, and that (2) the EMPOWER program will reduce depression and/or anxiety through enhancement in problem solving and psychological flexibility.
Implications: Findings can help to identify a cost-effective, flexible, and readily accessible mental health intervention for local MPs.
- Conditions
- Depression, Anxiety
- Being tested
- E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (E.M.P.O.W.E.R.), Education Materials
- Keywords
- randomized controlled trial, medical professionals, internet-based, self-help, intervention, mental health, depression, anxiety
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (E.M.P.O.W.E.R.)Behavioural
The EMPOWER programme aims to help participants acquire problem-solving skills adapted into the context of MPs' workplace and daily life to address their work-related, personal, and interpersonal problems, including self-neglect, work-life imbalance, patient communication problems, as well as stress during emerging public health crises. The session elements include video introduction, metaphors, daily examples, and narrative stories with prototype MP characters depicting the targeted problems to demonstrate how the taught problem-solving skills could be applied in a variety of situations. Brief exercise and homework will be assigned after each session and personalized written feedback will be provided. ACT strategies were also incorporated throughout the program to facilitate behavioral change.
Education MaterialsOther
The active control receive education materials covering (1) introduction of mental health problems; (2) signs, symptoms, causes, and consequences of anxiety and depression, and (3) treatment approaches and available community resources.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| The EMPOWER program | Experimental | The intervention group will receive 4 weekly sessions (the EMPOWER program). Receives: Behavioral: E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (E.M.P.O.W.E.R.) |
| Education materials | Active comparator | The active control group receive education materials about mental health, depression, anxiety and available community resources but not the EMPOWER program during the intervention period. Receives: Other: Education Materials |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from baseline depression immediately after the interventions
The outcome will be measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) consisting of 9 questions designed to correspond to the 9 diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Items are rated from 0 to 3 according to increased frequency of experiencing difficulties in each area covered. Scores are summed and can range from 0 to 27. Score 10 is often recommended as the cut-off score to detect major depressive disorder. Scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represent cut-off points for mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression, respectively. The Chinese version has been validated.
Measured: immediately after the interventions
Change from baseline depression 1 month after the interventions
The outcome will be measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) consisting of 9 questions designed to correspond to the 9 diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Items are rated from 0 to 3 according to increased frequency of experiencing difficulties in each area covered. Scores are summed and can range from 0 to 27. Score 10 is often recommended as the cut-off score to detect major depressive disorder. Scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represent cut-off points for mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression, respectively. The Chinese version has been validated.
Measured: 1 month after the interventions
Change from baseline anxiety immediately after the interventions
The outcome will be measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD), which is a 7-item instrument developed to identify likely cases of generalized anxiety disorder in primary care patients. Items are rated for the last two weeks, using a four-point rating scale for duration from 1 ("not at all") to 5 ("nearly every day"). A score of 10 or greater represents a cut point for identifying cases of generalized anxiety disorder, while cut points of 5, 10, 15, and 20 are interpreted as representing mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe levels of anxiety. The Chinese version has been validated.
Measured: Immediately after the interventions
Change from baseline anxiety 1 month after the interventions
The outcome will be measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD), which is a 7-item instrument developed to identify likely cases of generalized anxiety disorder in primary care patients. Items are rated for the last two weeks, using a four-point rating scale for duration from 1 ("not at all") to 5 ("nearly every day"). A score of 10 or greater represents a cut point for identifying cases of generalized anxiety disorder, while cut points of 5, 10, 15, and 20 are interpreted as representing mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe levels of anxiety. The Chinese version has been validated.
Measured: 1 month after the interventions
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Apr 2025
- Study start31 Mar 2025
- Primary completion1 Apr 2026
- Study completion28 May 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Depression, AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Chinese University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- 161 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr. Xue YANG, Chinese University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06910748
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1007627352
- Acronym
- EMPOWER
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 3 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (E.M.P.O.W.E.R.) - An Online Guided Self-help Intervention to Improve Common Mental Health Problems Among Medical Professionals : A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06910748
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EMPOWER / 1007627352
- Conditions
- Depression, Anxiety
- Keywords
- randomized controlled trial, medical professionals, internet-based, self-help, intervention, mental health, depression, anxiety
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 161 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 31 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 28 May 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Apr 2025 (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.
This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an online guided self-help intervention developed based on Problem Solving Therapy (PST) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which are both transdiagnostic low-intensity interventions recommended by the World Health Organization, in improving medical professionals' mental health.
Detailed description
Despite the high prevalence of common mental health problems among medical professionals (MPs), their help-seeking for mental health support is low. Existing interventions are empirically effective but practically challenging to be applied in Hong Kong given the long intervention hours and fixed schedule. New interventions are needed to cater for the unique needs of local MPs.
Objectives: An online guided self-help intervention for MPs, E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (the EMPOWER program), will be developed based on Problem Solving Therapy (PST) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which are both transdiagnostic low-intensity interventions recommended by the World Health Organization. Targeted at local MPs aged 18-60 with depression and/or anxiety symptoms, the intervention aims to reduce their symptoms through strengthening coping skills for work-related problems. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted to evaluate (1) the intervention's efficacy in reducing depression/anxiety compared with an active control (education pamphlets); (2) its efficacy in improving the levels of PTSD symptoms, well-being, burnout, and work performance versus active control; (3) the potential mediators/mechanisms explaining any between-group differences.
Method: 120 participants will be recruited online. The EMPOWER group will receive four 30-min self-paced weekly intervention sessions. The active control group will receive four weekly education pamphlets. Data will be collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention and 1-month follow-up. The group effect will be examined by comparing the mean improvement scores and remission rates on the outcome variables among the two groups. The potential mediation effects of problem solving and psychological flexibility between the two groups and the outcomes will also be tested.
Expected outcomes: The investigators expect (1) greater reductions in depression and/or anxiety as well as levels of PTSD, well-being, burnout, and work performance for the EMPOWER group at post-treatment and 1-month follow-up than active control, and that (2) the EMPOWER program will reduce depression and/or anxiety through enhancement in problem solving and psychological flexibility.
Implications: Findings can help to identify a cost-effective, flexible, and readily accessible mental health intervention for local MPs.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| The EMPOWER program | Experimental | Behavioral: E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (E.M.P.O.W.E.R.)The intervention group will receive 4 weekly sessions (the EMPOWER program). |
| Education materials | Active comparator | Other: Education MaterialsThe active control group receive education materials about mental health, depression, anxiety and available community resources but not the EMPOWER program during the intervention period. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- (1) being a frontline medical professional working in local public settings;
- (2) at least 18 years of age;
- (3) able to read and understand Chinese;
- (4) have access to the Internet; and
- (5) Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and/or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) score>=5, indicating at least mild levels of depression and/or anxiety.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- actively suicidal.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (E.M.P.O.W.E.R.)The EMPOWER programme aims to help participants acquire problem-solving skills adapted into the context of MPs' workplace and daily life to address their work-related, personal, and interpersonal problems, including self-neglect, work-life imbalance, patient communication problems, as well as stress during emerging public health crises. The session elements include video introduction, metaphors, daily examples, and narrative stories with prototype MP characters depicting the targeted problems to demonstrate how the taught problem-solving skills could be applied in a variety of situations. Brief exercise and homework will be assigned after each session and personalized written feedback will be provided. ACT strategies were also incorporated throughout the program to facilitate behavioral change. | Behavioural | The EMPOWER program |
| Education MaterialsThe active control receive education materials covering (1) introduction of mental health problems; (2) signs, symptoms, causes, and consequences of anxiety and depression, and (3) treatment approaches and available community resources. | Other | Education materials |
Primary outcome
Change from baseline depression immediately after the interventions
Time frame: immediately after the interventions
The outcome will be measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) consisting of 9 questions designed to correspond to the 9 diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Items are rated from 0 to 3 according to increased frequency of experiencing difficulties in each area covered. Scores are summed and can range from 0 to 27. Score 10 is often recommended as the cut-off score to detect major depressive disorder. Scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represent cut-off points for mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression, respectively. The Chinese version has been validated.
Change from baseline depression 1 month after the interventions
Time frame: 1 month after the interventions
The outcome will be measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) consisting of 9 questions designed to correspond to the 9 diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Items are rated from 0 to 3 according to increased frequency of experiencing difficulties in each area covered. Scores are summed and can range from 0 to 27. Score 10 is often recommended as the cut-off score to detect major depressive disorder. Scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represent cut-off points for mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression, respectively. The Chinese version has been validated.
Change from baseline anxiety immediately after the interventions
Time frame: Immediately after the interventions
The outcome will be measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD), which is a 7-item instrument developed to identify likely cases of generalized anxiety disorder in primary care patients. Items are rated for the last two weeks, using a four-point rating scale for duration from 1 ("not at all") to 5 ("nearly every day"). A score of 10 or greater represents a cut point for identifying cases of generalized anxiety disorder, while cut points of 5, 10, 15, and 20 are interpreted as representing mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe levels of anxiety. The Chinese version has been validated.
Change from baseline anxiety 1 month after the interventions
Time frame: 1 month after the interventions
The outcome will be measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD), which is a 7-item instrument developed to identify likely cases of generalized anxiety disorder in primary care patients. Items are rated for the last two weeks, using a four-point rating scale for duration from 1 ("not at all") to 5 ("nearly every day"). A score of 10 or greater represents a cut point for identifying cases of generalized anxiety disorder, while cut points of 5, 10, 15, and 20 are interpreted as representing mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe levels of anxiety. The Chinese version has been validated.
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 3 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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 E-training for Medical Professionals On Wellbeing and Effective Resolutions (E.M.P.O.W.E.R.) and Education Materials in people with Depression, Anxiety, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong 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 1 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 3 Jun 2026. 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?
Change from baseline depression immediately after the interventions (time frame: immediately after the interventions). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. 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 3 Jun 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 31 Oct 2026.