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.
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
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
Lea Nørgaard Sørensen
Lead sponsor
Aarhus University Hospital
Sponsor institution
Gødstrup Hospital
Collaborator