NCT07120022

Brief Summary

The primary goal of this study is to determine whether a self-efficacy training can increase the probability of taking cold showers regularly over a three-month period. Secondary objectives are to assess effects on physical and mental well-being, sleep quality, skin and hair appearance, perceived illness, and related sickness absences from work.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
127

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2023

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 5, 2023

Completed
6 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 2, 2024

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 2, 2024

Completed
1.1 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 22, 2025

Completed
22 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 13, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

August 13, 2025

Status Verified

August 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

6 months

First QC Date

July 22, 2025

Last Update Submit

August 5, 2025

Conditions

Psychological and Behavioral Symptoms

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (39)

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Baseline)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Baseline

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Baseline)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Baseline

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Baseline)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Baseline

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 1)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Week 1

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 1)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Week 1

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 1)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Week 1

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 2)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Week 2

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 2)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Week 2

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 2)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Week 2

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 3)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Week 3

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 3)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Week 3

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 3)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Week 3

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 4)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Week 4

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 4)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Week 4

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 4)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Week 4

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 5)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Week 5

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 5)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Week 5

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 5)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Week 5

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 6)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Week 6

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 6)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Week 6

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 6)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Week 6

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 7)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Week 7

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 7)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Week 7

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 7)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Week 7

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 8)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Week 8

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 8)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Week 8

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 8)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Week 8

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 9)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Week 9

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 9)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Week 9

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 9)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Week 9

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 10)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Week 10

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 10)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Week 10

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 10)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Week 10

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 11)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Week 11

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 11)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Week 11

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 11)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Week 11

  • Showering behaviour concerning frequency (Week 12)

    Participants will be asked how often they showered during the last week.

    Week 12

  • Showering behaviour concerning duration (Week 12)

    Participants will be asked how long they showered for during the last week.

    Week 12

  • Showering behaviour concerning motivation (Week 12)

    Participants will be asked their motivation for taking cold showers during the last week.

    Week 12

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • WHO Five Well-Being Index

    All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.

  • Questionnaire for positive aspects of well-being in adults

    All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.

  • International Physical Activity Questionnaire

    All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.

  • Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

    All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.

  • Skin quality questionnaire

    All secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and then monthly for 3 months.

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Self-efficacy training

EXPERIMENTAL

Self-efficacy training

Other: Self-efficacy training

No Training

NO INTERVENTION

No Training

Interventions

Self-efficacy trainingOTHER

The primary goal of this study is to determine whether self-efficacy training can increase the probability of taking cold showers regularly over a three-month period.

Self-efficacy training

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • In good health and between 18 and 65 years of age
  • Do not take cold showers on a regular basis

You may not qualify if:

  • Pregnant or lactating women (assessed via self-report)
  • Cardiac, pulmonary or any other severe disease (assessed via self-report)

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Basel Faculty of Psychology Division for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

Basel, Canton of Basel-City, 4055, Switzerland

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Buijze GA, Sierevelt IN, van der Heijden BC, Dijkgraaf MG, Frings-Dresen MH. The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS One. 2016 Sep 15;11(9):e0161749. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161749. eCollection 2016.

    PMID: 27631616BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Behavioral Symptoms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

  • Jens Gaab, Prof. Dr.

    University of Basel, Division Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 22, 2025

First Posted

August 13, 2025

Study Start

December 5, 2023

Primary Completion

June 2, 2024

Study Completion

June 2, 2024

Last Updated

August 13, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations

CH(1)