Ultra-brief Online Mindfulness-based Intervention During COVID-19 Movement Control Order

Overview

The federal government of Malaysia implemented a nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) to control the COVID-19 outbreak. The MCO, however, has been found to have a negative impact on people's mental wellbeing. Interventions that can improve mental health under restricted movement condition is urgently. The present study investigated the impact of a brief, online mindfulness-based intervention on mental health using two-arm randomized controlled trial design. A total of 161 participants self-reported their feeling, anxiety, psychological insecurity, and well-being at baseline (T1) and post-test (T2), while 61 of them answered the same set of measures and the fear of COVID-19 scale in a follow-up study two weeks later (T3).

Full Title of Study: “Effects of an Ultra-brief Online Mindfulness-based Intervention on Mental Health During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak in Malaysia: A Randomised Controlled Trial”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Prevention
    • Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: May 30, 2020

Interventions

  • Behavioral: Ultra Brief Online Mindfulness-based Intervention
    • We adapted and contextualized the original RAIN protocol to local pandemic-induced lockdown situation, with short journaling prompts that engage participants in self-reflection. Journaling is known to be a creative way to engage people in a therapeutic activity which promotes self-awareness (Utley & Garza, 2011). Creating a visual narration of thoughts, feelings and experiences help individuals make internal experiences more tangible and manageable, especially during these uncertain times.
  • Behavioral: Control
    • The control group participants were asked to report preventive measures that they have taken to prevent COVID-19, ways that they obtained Movement Control Order news, and things that they wished to do once the Movement Control Order is lifted.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Experimental: Treatment
    • Ultra Brief Online Mindfulness-based Intervention
  • Placebo Comparator: Control
    • This arm requires participants to answer questions about themselves.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Changes of Subjective Unit of Distress
    • Time Frame: It was measured at pre-intervention, post-intervention (through intervention completion, on average 10 minutes), and 2-week follow up.
    • This is being measured with the Subject Unit of Distress Scale.
  • Changes of Anxiety Scores
    • Time Frame: It was being It was measured at pre-intervention, post-intervention (through intervention completion, on average 10 minutes), and 2-week follow up.
    • This is being measured with the GAD-7 questionnaire.
  • Changes of Psychological Insecurity
    • Time Frame: It was being It was measured at pre-intervention, post-intervention (through intervention completion, on average 10 minutes), and 2-week follow up.
    • This is being measured with the Psychological Insecurity Scale.

Secondary Measures

  • Changes of General Well-being
    • Time Frame: It was being It was measured at pre-intervention, post-intervention (through intervention completion, on average 10 minutes), and 2-week follow up.
    • This is being measured with the WHO-5 Well-being Index questionnaire.
  • Fear of COVID-19
    • Time Frame: It was being measured at 2-week follow up.
    • This is being measured with the Fear of COVID-19 Scale.

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • People residing in Malaysia during the Movement Control Order. Exclusion Criteria:

  • People who are unable to read or write in either Malay, English or Mandarin languages.

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: 99 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
  • Collaborator
    • Sunway University
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: Pheh Kai Shuen, Lecturer – Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Kai-Shuen Pheh, MClinPsych, Principal Investigator, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

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