Feasibility randomized controlled trial of a self-guided online intervention to promote psychosocial adjustment to unmet parenthood goals

STUDY QUESTION

Is it feasible to implement and evaluate an online self-guided psychosocial intervention for people with an unmet parenthood goal (UPG), aimed to improve well-being, in an online randomized controlled trial (RCT)?

SUMMARY ANSWER

The evaluation of an online bilingual self-guided psychosocial intervention for people with a UPG is feasible, reflected by high demand, good acceptability, good adaptation and promise of efficacy, but minor adjustments to the intervention and study design of the RCT should be made to enhance practicality.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Self-identifying as having a UPG, defined as being unable to have children or as many as desired, is associated with impaired well-being and mental health. Practice guidelines and regulatory bodies have highlighted the need to address the lack of evidence-based support for this population. It is unknown if MyJourney (www.myjourney.pt), the first online self-guided intervention for people with UPGs, can be implemented and evaluated in an RCT.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

To evaluate the feasibility of MyJourney, we conducted a registered, two-arm, parallel group, non-blinded feasibility RCT, with a 1:1 computer-generated randomized allocation and embedded qualitative process evaluation. Participants were included between November 2020 and March 2021. Assessments were made before randomization (T1), 10 weeks (T2) and 6 months after (T3, intervention group only). Participants allocated to the intervention group received an email to access MyJourney immediately after randomization. Participants in the waitlist control group were given access to MyJourney after completing the 10-week assessment (T2).

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Participants were recruited via social media advertising of MyJourney and its feasibility study. People who self-identified as having a UPG could click on a link to participate, and of these 235 were randomized. Outcome measures related to demand, acceptability, implementation, practicality, adaptation and limited efficacy were assessed via online surveys. The primary outcome in limited efficacy testing was hedonic well-being, measured with the World Health Organisation Wellbeing Index (WHO-5).

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Participation and retention rates were 58.3%, 31.7% (T2) and 45.2% (T3, intervention group only), respectively. Of participants invited to register with MyJourney, 91 (76.5%) set up an account, 51 (47.2%) completed the first Step of MyJourney, 12 (11.1%) completed six Steps (sufficient dose) and 6 (5.6%) completed all Steps within the 10-week recommended period. Acceptability ranged from 2.79 (successful at supporting) to 4.42 (easy to understand) on a 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely acceptable) scale. Average time to complete sufficient dose was 15.6 h (SD = 18.15) and to complete all Steps was 12.4 h (SD = 18.15), with no differences found for participants using MyJourney in Portuguese and English. Modified intention-to-treat analysis showed a moderate increase in well-being from T1 to T2 in the intervention group (η_p² = 0.156, mean difference (MD) = 9.300 (2.285, 16.315)) and no changes in the control group (η_p² = 0.000, MD = 0.047 (−3.265, 3.358)). Participants in the process evaluation reported MyJourney was needed and answered their needs for support (reflecting high demand and acceptability), the recommended period to engage with MyJourney was short, and their engagement was influenced by multiple factors, including personal (e.g. lack of time) and MyJourney related (e.g. reminders).

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Participants were mostly white, well-educated, employed, childless women. Non-blinded allocation, use of self-reported questionnaire assessments and high attrition in the intervention group could have triggered bias favourable to positive evaluations of MyJourney and resulted in low power to detect T2 to T3 changes in limited efficacy outcomes.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

MyJourney can proceed to efficacy testing, but future work should eliminate barriers for engagement and explore strategies to maximize adherence. Entities wanting to support people with UPGs now have a freely accessible and promising resource that can be further tested and evaluated in different settings.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

MyJourney’s development was funded by the charity Portuguese Fertility Association, Cardiff University and University of Coimbra (CINEICC). Dr S.G. reports consultancy fees from Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, speaker fees from Access Fertility, SONA-Pharm LLC, Meridiano Congress International and Gedeon Richter and grants from Merck Serono Ltd. Bethan Rowbottom holds a PhD scholarship funded by the School of Psychology, Cardiff University. The other authors have no conflicts of interest.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Clinical Trials.gov NCT04850482.

P-495 A feasibility randomised controlled trial of MyJourney: a self-guided online intervention to promote psychosocial adjustment to unmet parenthood goals

Study question

Is it feasible to implement and evaluate an online self-guided psychosocial intervention for people with unmet parenthood goals (UPG), aimed to improve wellbeing, in an online randomized controlled trial (RCT)?

Summary answer

The evaluation of an online bilingual self-guided psychosocial intervention for people with a UPG is feasible but minor adjustments should be made to enhance practicality.

What is known already

Self-identifying as having a UPG, defined as being unable to have children or as many as desired, is associated with impaired wellbeing and mental health. Practice guidelines and regulatory bodies have highlighted the need to address the lack of evidence-based support for this population. It is unknown if MyJourney (www.myjourney.pt), the first online self-guided intervention for people with UPGs, can be implemented and evaluated in an RCT.

Study design, size, duration

We conducted a pre-registered, two-arm, parallel group, non-blinded feasibility RCT, with a 1:1 computer-generated randomised allocation and embedded qualitative process evaluation. Recruitment run from November 2020 to March 2021. Assessments were made before randomisation (T1), 10-weeks (T2) and 6-months after (T3, intervention group only). Participants allocated to the intervention group received an email to access MyJourney immediately after randomization. Participants in the control group were given access to MyJourney after filling the 10-weeks assessment (T2).

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Participants were recruited via social media advertising of MyJourney and its feasibility study. People who self-identified as having a UPG could click on a link to participate and of these 235 were randomised. Outcome measures related to demand, acceptability, implementation, practicality, adaptation, and limited efficacy were assessed via online surveys. The primary outcome in limited efficacy testing was hedonic wellbeing, measured with the World Health Organisation Wellbeing Index (WHO-5).

Main results and the role of chance

Participation and retention rates were 58.3%, 31.7% (T2) and 45.2% (T3, intervention group only). Of participants invited to register with MyJourney, 91 (76.5%) set up account, 51 (47.2%) completed the first Step of MyJourney, 12 (11.1%) completed six Steps (sufficient dose) and six (5.6%) completed all Steps within the 10-week recommended period. Acceptability ranged from 2.79 (successful at supporting) to 4.42 (easy to understand) on a 1(not at all) to 5(extremely acceptable). Average time to complete sufficient dose was 5.6 hours (SD = 18.15) and all Steps was 12.4 hours (SD = 18.15), with no differences found for participants using MyJourney in Portuguese and English. Modified intention to treat analysis showed a moderate increase in wellbeing from T1 to T2 in the intervention group (ηp2 = .156, MD = 9.300 [2.285, 16.315]) and no changes in the control group (ηp2 = .000, MD = .047 [-3.265, 3.358]). Participants in the process evaluation reported that MyJourney was needed and answered their needs for support (reflecting high demand and acceptability). Participants thought the recommended period to engage with MyJourney was short and that their engagement was influenced by multiple factors, including personal (e.g., lack of time) and MyJourney related factors (e.g., reminders).

Limitations, reasons for caution

Participants were mostly white, well-educated, employed, childless women. Non-blinded allocation, use of self-reported questionnaire assessments and high attrition in the intervention group could have triggered bias favourable to positive evaluations MyJourney.

Wider implications of the findings

MyJourney can proceed to efficacy testing, but future work should eliminate barriers for engagement (e.g., enabling users to add MyJourney icon to device and remain logged in) and explore strategies to maximise adherence (e.g., reminders with personalised content, guidance and scheduling options for routine use).

Trial registration number

Clinical Trials.gov NCT04850482