CompletedNot Applicable

Online Peer Support in Long-term Conditions

United Kingdom126 participantsStarted 2024-02-12

Plain-language summary

Over 15 million people in England live with a long-term physical health condition. Low mood, loneliness and worry related to chronic illness are very common. In partnership with people with long-term conditions we have co-designed an online peer support platform to help people with health problems connect, support others, share experiences, and receive evidence-based information and advice on self-management. This study explores if the platform is feasible to implement and acceptable for people with long-term conditions experiencing mild depressive symptoms. Those allocated to the intervention arm will be invited to try out an online peer support platform with psychoeducational resources named "CommonGround". Those in the control arm will be guided to use the National Health Service NHS "Mental Health" webpages.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Probable SUBD (scoring 5-9 on the PHQ-8). * Currently living with one or more LTCs. A long-term condition is a diagnosed physical medical condition with a duration of ≥6 months that demonstrates recurrence or deterioration and is typically associated with a poor prognosis. There are no restrictions on the type of LTCs. Please see list below. * Aged ≥18 years old. * Access to the internet (via phone, desktop, or laptop). * Sufficient English to engage with the platform (assessed via self-report during screening). * Ability to give informed consent (i.e., no known circumstances/conditions that may affect capacity to consent, e.g., dementia, memory loss or awaiting diagnosis). Exclusion Criteria: • Have ever received a clinical diagnosis of severe mental illness of bipolar, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and/or schizophrenia, and/or a diagnosis of dementia.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Incidence of probable Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Timeframe: 3 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06222346

SponsorKing's College London

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-10-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Long-term Physical Health Conditions trials