Implementation of the ASCEND Training for Supervisors in Dutch Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)

NCT06989398 | Recruiting DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 2024.0846ADVANCE
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 148
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an in-person group intervention for workplace supervisors - Advancing Supervisors' Capacity for Mental Health at Work (ASCEND) - in Dutch Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The ASCEND intervention is designed to equip supervisors with the skills to: i) know when to support their workers; ii) how to direct workers to support, and iii) advocate for action on mental health at work. The primary objectives of this project are to:

• Assess to what extent the novel, WHO-developed ASCEND intervention is effective in enhancing supervisors' confidence, responsiveness, mental health literacy, and SelfCare practices, and in reducing supervisor stigma towards mental health conditions within Dutch SMEs.
• Evaluate the impact of the ASCEND intervention on employee outcomes, including mental health and work-related outcomes among supervisees (i.e., subordinates), as well as overall organizational absenteeism rates.
• Identify barriers, facilitators, and key implementation and adoption indicators to support future opportunities for scaling up the ASCEND intervention in the context of Dutch SMEs. Researchers will compare two groups to evaluate the effectiveness of the ASCEND intervention. One group will receive the training (the intervention group), while the other group will receive the training after the final follow-up period (the control group). Data will be collected from both supervisors and their supervisees (i.e., subordinates) via online questionnaires at various time points. In addition, general organizational information, including absenteeism rates, will be gathered through a representative from each participating organization. To further explore the feasibility of scaling up the ASCEND intervention within the Netherlands, qualitative data will be collected through interviews and/or focus group discussions.

Conditions

Occupational Health; Stress; Burnout; Mental Health Conditions; Sickness Absence

Keywords

Workplace mental health; Occupational stress; Sickness absence; Supervisors; Line managers; Absenteeism; Presenteeism; Employee well-being; Workplace intervention; Manager training; ASCEND; Advancing Supervisors' Capacity for Mental Health at Work

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Supervisor confidence in supporting employees with mental health conditions

  Confidence in supporting employees with mental health conditions will be measured among supervisors using a 6-item scale used in other trials that investigated a similar intervention. Participants will be asked to rate their degree of confidence from 1 (not confident at all) to 5 (extremely confident) for various activities that are related to the construct of supporting employee mental health. A mean score will be calculated by averaging participants' ratings across all items. Scores range from 1 to 5, with a higher score indicating more confidence.

  Change from baseline to 1-hour post-intervention, 1 month, and 3 months

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Supervisor responsiveness to employee mental health conditions

  Change from baseline to 1 month and 3 months

• Supervisor stigma towards mental health conditions

  Change from baseline to 1-hour post-intervention, 1 month, and 3 months

• Supervisor SelfCare

  Change from baseline to 1 month and 3 months

• Supervisor mental health literacy

  Change from baseline to 1-hour post-intervention and 1 month

• Implementation indicator: acceptability

  1-hour post-intervention

Other Outcomes (8)

• Perceived supervisor responsiveness to mental health conditions

  Change from baseline to 1 month and 3 months

• Perceived StaffCare

  Change from baseline to 1 month and 3 months

• Supervisee psychological distress

  Change from baseline to 1 month and 3 months

Study Arms (2)

Advancing Supervisors' Capacity for Mental Health at Work (ASCEND)

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention will consist of a training that incorporates evidence-based content and interactive exercises. Advancing Supervisors' Capacity for Mental Health at Work (ASCEND) covers five core topics designed to equip supervisors with the knowledge and practical skills needed to effectively support the mental health of their employees. The full training is delivered over approximately 8 hours in an in-person group setting. Trainings are facilitated by a trained professional.

Behavioral: Advancing Supervisors' Capacity for Mental Health at Work (ASCEND)

Waitlist

NO INTERVENTION

Supervisors from organizations in the waitlist arm will receive no training during the trial. They will be provided with the ASCEND training approx. 6 months after baseline, after the last follow-up.

Interventions

Advancing Supervisors' Capacity for Mental Health at Work (ASCEND) BEHAVIORAL

The intervention will consist of a training that incorporates evidence-based content and interactive exercises. Advancing Supervisors' Capacity for Mental Health at Work (ASCEND) covers five core topics designed to equip supervisors with the knowledge and practical skills needed to effectively support the mental health of their employees. The full training is delivered over approximately 8 hours in an in-person group setting. Trainings are facilitated by a trained professional. To support learning and skill application, participants will also receive a Manager Reference Booklet during the training. This booklet consolidates key information from the ASCEND training, serving both as a learning aid during the sessions and a practical, quick-reference tool afterward. It includes summaries of key concepts, tips, and exercises, along with space for participants to record notes.

Also known as: Toolkit Mental Health for Supervisors, Toolkit Mentale Gezondheid voor Leidinggevenden

Advancing Supervisors' Capacity for Mental Health at Work (ASCEND)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years or older
• Working in an organization in the Netherlands
• Sufficient mastery (written and spoken) of the language in which the ASCEND intervention is being delivered (i.e., Dutch or English)
• Written informed consent before entering the study
• Supervise at least 1 supervisee within the same organization
• years or older
• Have a direct supervisor who is participating in ASCEND (either intervention or control group)
• Sufficient mastery of English or Dutch
• Written informed consent before entering the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VU University of Amsterdam: lead
• World Health Organization: collaborator
• University of Copenhagen: collaborator
• University Hospital Heidelberg: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Amsterdam, 1081BT, Netherlands

RECRUITING

Related Links

• ADVANCE project website

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Burnout, Psychological; Occupational Stress

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Occupational Diseases

Study Officials

• Mark van Vugt, PhD

  VU University of Amsterdam

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Amber S Brizar, MSc

CONTACT

+31 20 59 82587; a.s.brizar@vu.nl

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Full Professor

Model Details: The trial has cluster-randomized study design, meaning that the organizations (i.e., SMEs) that take part in the study will form clusters that will be randomized into either the intervention or control group. This way every participating employee from a SME is part of the same group. The SMEs will be randomized using limited block size that varies randomly (i.e., 4, 6, or 8 SMEs per block) across (1) ASCEND (n=37) or (2) Waitlist (n=37), with an equal probability of assignment to each group (allocation ratio 1:1).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 6, 2025
• First Posted: May 25, 2025
• Study Start: May 14, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Last Updated: November 19, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Locations

NL (1)