The Effectiveness of a One-stop Electronic Clinic for Psychological Service (eClinic) in Hong Kong (NCT07597967) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
The Effectiveness of a One-stop Electronic Clinic for Psychological Service (eClinic) in Hong Kong
Hong Kong420 participantsStarted 2022-12-28
Plain-language summary
With an increasing need for effective and accessible mental health services, telepsychology can be one promising solution to narrowing the gap between demand and supply. Our one-stop electronic clinic of psychological service (eClinic) aims to deliver evidence-based treatments to individuals with moderate to severe emotional disorders of various kinds in Hong Kong. This study examines the cost-effectiveness and cost-efficiency of a hybrid model of telepsychology, in which contact with therapists focuses on facilitating service users' self-learning based on our online interactive modules. Results will shed light on the benefits of telepsychology to promoting access to mental health services in Hong Kong.
Who can participate
Age range
15 Years – 35 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:
* Screened eligible for and enrolled in the eClinic service
* Age between 15 and 35 years
* Speak, read, and write Chinese
* Present with moderate to severe depression (i.e., Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) total score ≥ 10) or anxiety (i.e., Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) total score ≥ 8)
Exclusion Criteria:
* Present with a history of psychosis in the recent 2 years
* Present with severe risk for self-harm/suicide (i.e., indicated as being at higher risk on the P4 suicidality screener during the service-related screening procedure prior to enrollment in the eClinic service)
* Present with active homicidal ideations (i.e., assessed during the service-related screening procedure prior to enrollment in the eClinic service)
* Demonstrate sub-average intelligence (e.g., based on a history of intellectual disability)
* Concurrently receive other psychological services
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.
1This trial tested an electronic clinic called eClinic for anxiety and depression — since it's already completed, has the data been published, and could the approach or tools it used be relevant to my own care right now?
2The trial measured outcomes using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaires, which track depression and anxiety symptoms — are you already using these same tools to monitor my progress, and how would my scores compare to what was studied?
3Since this was a study conducted in Hong Kong, do you think the eClinic model would translate well to my situation here, or are there cultural and system differences that might affect how useful its findings are for me?
4This trial had no listed phase, which suggests it was evaluating a service or system rather than a medication — does that mean the risks involved are lower than a drug trial, and what would participation in something like this actually require from a patient day-to-day?
5Given that this trial is now completed, is there a similar digital or remote mental health service available to me today that was informed by research like this, or would you recommend a more traditional in-person treatment path first?
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
1
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Timeframe: Baseline (week 0), post-intensive (week 5; after completion of core modules), posttreatment (week 14; completion of the intervention), and 1-, 2-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up
2
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
Timeframe: Baseline (week 0), post-intensive (week 5; after completion of core modules), posttreatment (week 14; completion of the intervention), and 1-, 2-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07597967
SponsorNew Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association