Online psychosocial group intervention for adolescents with a chronic illness: A randomized controlled trial
Miriam Douma, Heleen Maurice‐Stam, Bianca Gorter, Bregje A. Houtzager, Hestien J.I. Vreugdenhil, Maaike Waaldijk, Lianne Wiltink, Martha A. Grootenhuis, L. Scholten
Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Op Koers Online, a protocolled online psychosocial group intervention for adolescents with a chronic illness (CI). Adolescents (12–18 years) with different types of CI (N = 59; Mean age = 15.1 years, SD = 1.7; 54% female) participated in a parallel multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing Op Koers Online (N = 35) with a waitlist control group (N = 24). Assessments (online questionnaires) took place at baseline (T0), 6-months (T1) and 12-months follow-up (T2). Primary outcomes were internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems and disease-related coping skills. Health-Related Quality of Life was secondary. Efficacy was tested with linear mixed models. Compared to the control group, the intervention had a significant positive effect (p < .05) on disease-related coping skills T1 vs T0 (use of relaxation, β = 0.68; social competence, β = 0.57) and T2 vs T0 (information seeking, β = 0.61), and on HRQoL (social-, school-, psychosocial functioning and total HRQoL) T1 vs T0 (β = 0.52 to β = 0.60). No intervention effects on internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems were found. The results of this randomized controlled trial indicate a positive effect of Op Koers Online. The intervention had beneficial effects on disease-related coping skills and HRQoL. The next step is to implement Op Koers Online for adolescents in clinical practice.