Online intervention, ‘MePlusMe’, supporting mood, wellbeing, study skills, and everyday functioning in students in higher education: a protocol for a feasibility study

Παπαδάτου-Παστού, Μαριέττα; Goozée, Rhianna; Barley, Elizabeth; Haddad, Mark; Tzotzoli, Patapia

doi:10.1186/s40814-015-0029-8

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(27 reference statements)

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“…A larger feasibility study of MePlusMe’s design and contents using both quantitative and qualitative measures is currently underway in Riga Stradins University in Latvia. A feasibility study with a fully functioning system is the next step in the system’s development [63], which will be followed by an RCT.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the feasibility and acceptability of the contents, design, and functionalities of an online intervention promoting mental health, wellbeing, and study skills in Higher Education students

Παπαδάτου-Παστού

Campbell-Thompson

Barley

et al. 2019

Int J Ment Health Syst

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Background Substantial numbers of students in Higher Education (HE) are reporting mental health difficulties, such as mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Coupled with academic skills challenges, these difficulties can lead to decreased academic performance, low levels of study satisfaction, and eventually drop out. Student support services are facing budget cuts and can only attend to limited numbers of students, usually the ones who present with more severe mental health problems. Moreover, face-to-face contact may not appeal to those students who feel embarrassed by their problems or are afraid of being stigmatised. To address this important problem, an online psychological wellbeing and study skills support system called MePlusMe, has been developed to provide personalised support to its users. In the present study we investigated the feasibility and acceptability of the contents, design, and functionalities of the system. Methods An offline version of the system was introduced to 13 postgraduate and undergraduate students (mean age = 31.3 years, SD = 10.25 years; 4 males) in a UK HE Institution, who presented with mild or moderate mental health difficulties. The participants evaluated the design of the system, its functionalities, and contents at Baseline and at Weeks 2, 4, and 8. Results Participants found the system easy to use, professional, and efficient and its contents non-judgemental and informative. Participants stated that engaging with and practicing the techniques targeted at mental health difficulties led to improvements in positive thinking and self-confidence, while the study skills techniques were practical. Suggestions for further improvement included the development of an app and an option for direct engagement with professionals. Conclusions The findings confirmed the acceptability of the contents, design and functionalities of the system, while providing useful information to inform its further development. Next steps include a feasibility study, which will test and quantify the effects on everyday functioning, mood, mental wellbeing, and academic self-efficacy after using the system, and subsequently a randomized controlled trial, which will evaluate its effectiveness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the feasibility and acceptability of the contents, design, and functionalities of an online intervention promoting mental health, wellbeing, and study skills in Higher Education students

Παπαδάτου-Παστού

Campbell-Thompson

Barley

et al. 2019

Int J Ment Health Syst

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“…For the purpose of the study, 200 students will be recruited to a within-subjects, repeated measures study conducted over 8 weeks. A more in-depth feasibility study [ 27 ] and a subsequent randomised controlled trial (RCT) are then planned. Mindful Kiwi ( http://www.mindful-kiwi.com ) Mindful Kiwi offers an 8-week programme, based on techniques from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) that are adapted to focus on the needs of HE students and healthcare professionals.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of web-based support systems for students in higher education

Παπαδάτου-Παστού

Goozée

Payne

et al. 2017

Int J Ment Health Syst

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BackgroundRecent evidence suggests that there is an increasing need for accessible and anonymous services to support higher education (HE) students suffering from psychological and/or academic difficulties. Such difficulties can lead to several negative outcomes, including poor academic performance, sub-optimal mental health, reduced study satisfaction, and dropout from study. Currently, universities in the UK lack financial resources and the on-campus mental health services traditionally offered to students are increasingly economically unsustainable. Compounded by the perceived stigma of using such services, mental health providers have been driven to address the escalating needs of students through online services.MethodsIn this paper, we review online support systems identified through a literature search and a manual search of references in the identified papers. Further systems were identified through web searches, and systems still in development were identified by consultation with researchers in the field. We accessed systems online to extract relevant information, regarding the main difficulties addressed by the systems, the psychological techniques used and any relevant research evidence to support their effectiveness.ConclusionA large number of web-based support systems have been developed to support mental health and wellbeing, although few specifically target HE students. Further research is necessary to establish the effectiveness of such interventions in providing a cost-effective alternative to face-to-face therapy, particularly in certain settings such as HE institutions.

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“…Upon completion of the full system, a feasibility study (the third stage of development of this online intervention as briefly mentioned above) will be conducted to test the feasibility, acceptability and potential effects of the system. 34 This stage will further provide information regarding the extent of change between pre- and post-intervention ratings (mood, wellbeing, academic self-efficacy and everyday functioning), and will inform the implementation of future randomised trials assessing effectiveness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, a feasibility study protocol has been now finalised. 34 As the feasibility study stage is a work in progress, it is discussed in detail following the presentation of the proof-of-concept study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Online support system for students in higher education: Proof-of-concept study

et al. 2016

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BackgroundProviding support to the increasing numbers of students facing mental health difficulties in higher education (HE) can be difficult due to stigma or lack of resources. Alternative and/or complementary sources of support are needed, such as online interventions that are recognised for their therapeutic value and cost-effectiveness.ObjectivesWe aim to provide evidence supporting the conceptual and practical value of a newly developed online multimedia intervention system for HE students who face mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety and depression and study-skills difficulties.MethodsStudents from five universities were invited to participate in a cross-sectional proof-of-concept study. Students were invited through the universities’ internal communication channels. Following demonstration of each part of the system, students completed a survey with quantitative and qualitative questions.ResultsResponse was largely positive. Positive responses on the features of the questionnaire ranged between 65% and 86%; on the features of the workshops ranged between 57% and 91%; on ‘My place’ ranged between 65% and 79%; on the animated videos ranged between 79% and 92%; and on the overall system ranged between 78% and 89%. Participants indicated areas for improvement and ways in which such improvement could be accomplished; these then guided the development of the system.ConclusionsThe results confirm the need for such a system. It can complement student support services (SSS) by dealing with cases with mild to moderate difficulties, hence allowing SSS to prioritise and effectively address more severe cases. Potentially this method can provide a meaningful alternative to SSS; this is worth investigating further.

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Online intervention, ‘MePlusMe’, supporting mood, wellbeing, study skills, and everyday functioning in students in higher education: a protocol for a feasibility study

Cited by 8 publications

References 33 publications

Exploring the feasibility and acceptability of the contents, design, and functionalities of an online intervention promoting mental health, wellbeing, and study skills in Higher Education students

Exploring the feasibility and acceptability of the contents, design, and functionalities of an online intervention promoting mental health, wellbeing, and study skills in Higher Education students

A review of web-based support systems for students in higher education

Online support system for students in higher education: Proof-of-concept study

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