Stop for Stress - a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing an Online and a Group-based Format of an Intervention for Work-related Stress

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Work-Related Stress

In brief

Work-related stress is a major public health concern, causing sickness absenteeism and impaired health and well-being. Many afflicted with severe work-related stress will not receive evidence-based treatment due to geographical distance, stigma and unwillingness to participate in a group, creating unequality access to healthcare services. Online interventions show comparable effects to face-to-face interventions and have potential to break down some of these barriers. We have developed and pilot tested the online delivery format of the intervention for work-related stress, Stop for Stress, with promising results. In a two-armed, multicentre randomized controlled trial we aim to 1) compare the effect of the online delivery format and an evidence-based face-to-face group-based format and 2) identify markers of enhanced outcomes in each delivery format. The study will include 220 patients with severe work-related stress (110 from each of two centres) who are randomizes 1:1 to the two interventions. Outcomes consist of self-report measures of psychological symptoms, cognitive functioning, sleep, and perceived working environment and register data on ebsenteeism and return-to-work.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06799403

Run by

Lea Nørgaard Sørensen

People needed

220

Starts

2025-03-27

Expected to finish

2027-08-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-06-17

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Current employment and significant work-related stressors
• Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) score ≥20 and symptom duration >4 weeks
• In case of full-time sick leave, return to work must be planned concurrent with the intervention
• Access to a computer or tablet with internet connection at home

You may not qualify if…

• Interpersonal difficulties, bullying, harassment, violence, threats, and traumatic events as primary stressor
• Severe stressors outside of work
• Symptoms meeting diagnostic criteria for anxiety, depression or severe psychiatric illnesses requiring specialized treatment
• Current abuse of alcohol and/or psychoactive drugs

Where it is running

• Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital — Aarhus, Central Region Denmark, Denmark (enrolling)
• Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Gødstrup Hospital — Herning, Central Region Denmark, Denmark

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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