Psychological and Behavioral SymptomsTCSNCT07120022
Self-efficacy Training to Facilitate Taking Cold Showers
A study testing Self-efficacy training in people with Psychological and Behavioral Symptoms, run by University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
The primary goal of this study is to determine whether a self-efficacy training can increase the probability of taking cold showers regularly over a three-month period. Secondary objectives are to assess effects on physical and mental well-being, sleep quality, skin and hair appearance, perceived illness, and related… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Psychological and Behavioral Symptoms
- What is being tested?
- Self-efficacy training
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 127 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 5 Dec 2023to 2 Jun 2024
- 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 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- In good health and between 18 and 65 years of age
- Do not take cold showers on a regular basis
Who cannot join
- Pregnant or lactating women (assessed via self-report)
- Cardiac, pulmonary or any other severe disease (assessed via self-report)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Switzerland1 site
University of Basel Faculty of Psychology Division for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
Basel, Canton of Basel-City, 4055
About this study
Official title: Training Cold Showers: A Randomized Controlled Study
The primary goal of this study is to determine whether a self-efficacy training can increase the probability of taking cold showers regularly over a three-month period. Secondary objectives are to assess effects on physical and mental well-being, sleep quality, skin and hair appearance, perceived illness, and related sickness absences from work.
Read the detailed description
This study is an extension of our two ongoing studies: Feasibility and effects of taking cold showers: A randomized controlled study (Study ID 2019-00529) and Mindset interventions to facilitate taking cold showers: A randomized controlled study (Study ID 2022-00952), which have been approved by the EKNZ. Our ongoing study closely follows the protocol of a previous and similar study by Buijze and colleagues (2016).
This study extends our ongoing study by including experimental conditions, while retaining the original study procedure, i.e., the same recruitment, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and assessments.
- Conditions
- Psychological and Behavioral Symptoms
- Being tested
- Self-efficacy training
- Medical subject headings
- Behavioral Symptoms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Self-efficacy trainingOther
The primary goal of this study is to determine whether self-efficacy training can increase the probability of taking cold showers regularly over a three-month period.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Self-efficacy training | Experimental | Self-efficacy training Receives: Other: Self-efficacy training |
| No Training | No intervention | No Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Baseline)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Baseline
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Baseline)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Baseline
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Baseline)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Baseline
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 1)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Week 1
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 1)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Week 1
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 1)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Week 1
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 2)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Week 2
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 2)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Week 2
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 2)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Week 2
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 3)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Week 3
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 3)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Week 3
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 3)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Week 3
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 4)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Week 4
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 4)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Week 4
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 4)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Week 4
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 5)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Week 5
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 5)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Week 5
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 5)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Week 5
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 6)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Week 6
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 6)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Week 6
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 6)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Week 6
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 7)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Week 7
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 7)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Week 7
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 7)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Week 7
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 8)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Week 8
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 8)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Week 8
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 8)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Week 8
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 9)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Week 9
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 9)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Week 9
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 9)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Week 9
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 10)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Week 10
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 10)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Week 10
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 10)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Week 10
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 11)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Week 11
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 11)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Week 11
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 11)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Week 11
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 12)
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Measured: Week 12
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 12)
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Measured: Week 12
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 12)
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Measured: Week 12
Secondary outcomes (6)
WHO Five Well-Being Index
The WHO-5 is a short questionnaire designed to measure well-being. The WHO-5 consists of five questions. The answers are given on a six-level scale (0 - 5, where 0 represents "No time at all" and 5 "All the time"). The raw value is obtained by adding the answers. The raw value ranges from 0 to 25, where 0 is the lowest quality of life and 25 is the highest quality of life. The percentage value of 0 -100 is obtained by multiplying by 4. The percentage value 0 denotes the worst state of health, 100 the best. The processing time is less than one minute. Example: In the last 4 weeks I was happy and in a good mood.
Measured: All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.
Questionnaire for positive aspects of well-being in adults
The FEW 16 is a psychological self-evaluation procedure for the assessment of positive aspects of well-being in adults. The FEW 16 consists of 16 questions, of which 4 questions each are assigned to one of the following four scales: Ability to work under pressure, vitality, enjoyment, inner peace. The answers are given on a 6-level scale (1 - 6, where 6 represents "Does not apply at all" and 1 "Is absolutely true"). The processing time is estimated at five to ten minutes by adding up the 16 items you get an overall result between 16 - 96, whereas a lower overall result shows a higher physical wellbeing. Example: There's hardly anything that can upset me.
Measured: All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.
International Physical Activity Questionnaire
The IPAQ is a short questionnaire designed to measure physical activity. The IPAQ consists of six questions, of which 3 questions each are assigned to one of the following two scales: Strong physical exertion and light physical exertion. Either you have to tick an answer or you will be asked for a time in hours and minutes per week. The processing time is estimated at three minutes. Example: If you are thinking about physical activities where you are at least a little out of breath, such as running, hiking, dancing, gardening or many sports, how many days a week do you do physical activities of this kind?
Measured: All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
The PSQI is a self-report questionnaire that assesses sleep quality over a 1-month time interval. The measure consists of 19 individual items, creating 7 components that produce one global score, and takes 5-10 minutes to complete. The questionnaire offers seven component scores and one composite score. The component scores consist of subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction. Each item is weighted on a 0-3 interval scale. The global PSQI score is then calculated by totalling the seven component scores, providing an overall score ranging from 0 to 21, where lower scores denote a healthier sleep quality. Example: How tired are you during the day?
Measured: All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.
Skin quality questionnaire
The SQQ is a short self-report questionnaire that assesses hand and skin quality. The measure consists of 4 items, whereas they measure appearance, intactness, moisture content and sensation on a 7-level scale (1-7), where higher scores denote a healthier quality of skin. The processing time is less than one minute each. Example: Appearance: Abnormal: redness, stains, rash. Normal: no redness, stains or rashes.
Measured: All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.
Sickness absence and illness days
Will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months. Participants are asked to retrospectively indicate the total number of days of absence from their work due to sickness and to indicate the number of days that they have had symptoms of illness, cold or flu during the last month. If participants indicate sickness absence or illness over five days, they are asked for the reason.
Measured: All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Aug 2025
- Study start5 Dec 2023
- Primary completion2 Jun 2024
- Study completion2 Jun 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Psychological and Behavioral SymptomsStudies 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 127 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Jens Gaab, Prof. Dr., Principal investigator, University of Basel, Division Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07120022
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- eknz2023-01677
- Acronym
- TCS
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 22 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 13 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Buijze GA, Sierevelt IN, van der Heijden BC, Dijkgraaf MG, Frings-Dresen MH. The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS One. 2016 Sep 15;11(9):e0161749. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161749. eCollection 2016.
PubMed 27631616
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Training Cold Showers: A Randomized Controlled Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07120022
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TCS / eknz2023-01677
- Conditions
- Psychological and Behavioral Symptoms
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 127 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Basel, SwitzerlandUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 Dec 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 2 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 2 Jun 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 13 Aug 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.
The primary goal of this study is to determine whether a self-efficacy training can increase the probability of taking cold showers regularly over a three-month period. Secondary objectives are to assess effects on physical and mental well-being, sleep quality, skin and hair appearance, perceived illness, and related sickness absences from work.
Detailed description
This study is an extension of our two ongoing studies: Feasibility and effects of taking cold showers: A randomized controlled study (Study ID 2019-00529) and Mindset interventions to facilitate taking cold showers: A randomized controlled study (Study ID 2022-00952), which have been approved by the EKNZ. Our ongoing study closely follows the protocol of a previous and similar study by Buijze and colleagues (2016).
This study extends our ongoing study by including experimental conditions, while retaining the original study procedure, i.e., the same recruitment, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and assessments.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Self-efficacy training | Experimental | Other: Self-efficacy trainingSelf-efficacy training |
| No Training | No intervention | –No Training |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- In good health and between 18 and 65 years of age
- Do not take cold showers on a regular basis
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Pregnant or lactating women (assessed via self-report)
- Cardiac, pulmonary or any other severe disease (assessed via self-report)
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-efficacy trainingThe primary goal of this study is to determine whether self-efficacy training can increase the probability of taking cold showers regularly over a three-month period. | Other | Self-efficacy training |
Primary outcome
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Baseline)
Time frame: Baseline
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Baseline)
Time frame: Baseline
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Baseline)
Time frame: Baseline
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 1)
Time frame: Week 1
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 1)
Time frame: Week 1
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 1)
Time frame: Week 1
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 2)
Time frame: Week 2
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 2)
Time frame: Week 2
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 2)
Time frame: Week 2
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 3)
Time frame: Week 3
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 3)
Time frame: Week 3
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 3)
Time frame: Week 3
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 4)
Time frame: Week 4
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 4)
Time frame: Week 4
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 4)
Time frame: Week 4
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 5)
Time frame: Week 5
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 5)
Time frame: Week 5
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 5)
Time frame: Week 5
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 6)
Time frame: Week 6
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 6)
Time frame: Week 6
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 6)
Time frame: Week 6
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 7)
Time frame: Week 7
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 7)
Time frame: Week 7
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 7)
Time frame: Week 7
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 8)
Time frame: Week 8
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 8)
Time frame: Week 8
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 8)
Time frame: Week 8
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 9)
Time frame: Week 9
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 9)
Time frame: Week 9
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 9)
Time frame: Week 9
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 10)
Time frame: Week 10
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 10)
Time frame: Week 10
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 10)
Time frame: Week 10
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 11)
Time frame: Week 11
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 11)
Time frame: Week 11
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 11)
Time frame: Week 11
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 12)
Time frame: Week 12
Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 12)
Time frame: Week 12
Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.
Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 12)
Time frame: Week 12
Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.
6 secondary outcomes
WHO Five Well-Being Index
Time frame: All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.
Questionnaire for positive aspects of well-being in adults
Time frame: All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.
International Physical Activity Questionnaire
Time frame: All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Time frame: All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.
Skin quality questionnaire
Time frame: All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.
Sickness absence and illness days
Time frame: All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.
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 13 Aug 2025.
- Background: PubMed 27631616Buijze GA, Sierevelt IN, van der Heijden BC, Dijkgraaf MG, Frings-Dresen MH. The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS One. 2016 Sep 15;11(9):e0161749. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161749. eCollection 2016.
- 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.
Jens Gaab, Prof. Dr. principal investigator
University of Basel, Division Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
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-efficacy training in people with Psychological and Behavioral Symptoms, run by University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland at 1 site in Switzerland.
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 2 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 13 Aug 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 Switzerland. 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?
Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Baseline) (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 39 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07120022, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 13 Aug 2025.