Implementation of DWM in Dutch SMEs

Summary

The goal of this cluster randomized controlled trial is to explore if mental health in Dutch small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can be improved by the World Health Organization's online program Doing What Matters in Times of Stress (DWM). The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does DWM improve the mental health of employees working in Dutch SMEs?
* Does DWM improve work-related outcomes in employees working in Dutch SMEs?
* How can DWM be implemented at a large scale in Dutch SMEs?

Researchers will compare two groups to see if the DWM program is effective. One group will receive the DWM program and Care-as-Usual (group 1), and the other group will receive Care-as-Usual only (group 2).

Participants will:

* Follow the online DWM program for 5 weeks (only group 1).
* Take part in 6 telephone appointments with a facilitator (helper) that provides extra support to complete the program (only group 1).
* Complete 3 sets of questionnaires. Each set of questionnaire takes about 15 minutes to be completed (group 1 and group 2).

Conditions

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Psychological Distress

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Doing What Matters in Times of Stress

DWM is the illustrated guide of the original stress management intervention - Self-Help Plus and can be offered online through a web-based application. DWM is a low-intensity and transdiagnostic intervention that has been designed to be widely applicable to a variety of mental health problems (depression, anxiety and PTSD). DWM is based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a modern form (third wave) of cognitive-behavioural therapy with a strong focus on mindfulness practices and identification of values, with exercises which aim to reduce distress and build social support, adaptive coping and resilience. DWM includes five modules, each of which focuses on a specific skill. The online version of DWM has been designed to release a module every week, so the program is finalized in 5 weeks. In this trial, participants will receive the guided version of DWM: participants will have a short (15 minutes) weekly support call with a helper (6 calls in total).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• World Health Organization

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Copenhagen

  collaborator OTHER

• University Hospital Heidelberg

  collaborator OTHER

• VU University of Amsterdam

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Marit E. Sijbrandij · VU University of Amsterdam

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-05-19

Primary Completion

2026-09-30

Completion

2026-09-30

Countries

• Netherlands

Study Locations