Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Oct 7, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Oct 7, 2024 - Dec 2, 2024
Date Accepted: Mar 3, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Efficacy of a Web-based Integrated Growth Mindset Intervention on Reducing Anxiety among Social Work and Counselling Practicum Trainees: Study Protocol for a Two-Arm Randomised Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Practicum is indispensable for the development of professional practitioners, yet trainees may encounter psychological distress, especially anxiety, brought on by new challenges. Research stated that a positive mindset promotes better learning and mental status. Well-designed interventions have been shown to relieve anxiety and help trainees thrive in their practicums and professions. The proposed study adapted an integrated intervention, Web-based Single-session Intervention of Mindset on Intelligence, Failure, and Emotion (We-SMILE), for improving pre-practicum anxiety and coping. We-SMILE has the potential to be a low-intensity self-help pre-practicum intervention to support students in adjusting their mindsets and overcoming the challenges in practicum.
Objective:
Using a two-arm randomised controlled trial, the study aims to examine the efficacy of We-SMILE on reducing anxiety (primary outcome), enhancing psychological status, psychological well-being, learning orientation, academic self-efficacy and confidence (secondary outcomes).
Methods:
A total of 117 students will be recruited from the social work and counselling programmes, and randomly assigned to existing pre-practicum training (Training as usual, TAU) or that plus the We-SMILE. Participants will be assessed repeatedly at three timepoints: baseline, two weeks post-intervention, and eight weeks post-intervention. The intention-to-treat principle and linear-regression-based maximum likelihood multi-level models will be used for data analysis.
Results:
The study has received research ethics approval in May 2024. Participants recruitment started at the end of September 2024 and the enrolment is ongoing. Data collection and analyses are expected to complete in 2025.
Conclusions:
The randomised controlled trial will compare the efficacy of the We-SMILE intervention group and the TAU group. The results of this study will benefit practicum students, fieldwork supervisors and social work and counselling programmes. Clinical Trial: NCT06509802.
Citation
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