Effectiveness of a Waitlist App "Stappvoorstap" During Mental Healthcare Waiting Times

NCT07391072 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: Stappvoorstap_N24.084KPO-79
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 54
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Stappvoorstap, a mobile self-management application designed for adults on mental health waiting lists in the Netherlands. The app helps users monitor daily stress levels, recognize personal stress patterns, and provides coping strategies, relaxation exercises, and supportive resources. Using a multiple baseline single-case experimental design, participants use the app for 4 weeks while completing weekly questionnaires measuring perceived stress, coping self-efficacy, and quality of life. The study aims to determine whether the app can reduce stress and improve wellbeing during the waiting period before mental healthcare treatment begins.

Conditions

Psychological Stress; Coping Ability; Mental Health; Quality of Life; Coping Skills

Keywords

waiting list; mental health; stress management; mobile health; self-management; mHealth; ecological momentary intervention; single-case experimental design; perceived stress

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Perceived Stress

  Measured using the Perceived Stress Scale with 10 items (PSS-10). The PSS-10 is a validated self-report questionnaire assessing how stressful situations were perceived in the past week. Items are rated on a 5-point scale (1=never to 5=very often). Higher scores indicate higher perceived stress. Change from baseline phase to intervention phase, and to follow-up will be assessed.

  Weekly measurements for 10-12 weeks (depending on group assignment)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Coping Self-Efficacy

  Weekly measurements for 10-12 weeks (depending on group assignment)

• Change in Quality of Life

  Weekly measurements for 10-12 weeks (depending on group assignment)

Other Outcomes (1)

• User Experience and Perceived Usefulness

  After completion of the 4-week intervention period

Study Arms (3)

Group 1: 3-week baseline

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive 3 weeks of baseline measurements, 4 weeks of Stappvoorstap app intervention, and 3 weeks of follow-up (10 total measurements).

Behavioral: Stappvoorstap: mobile self-management waitlist intervention

Group 2: 4-week baseline

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive 4 weeks of baseline measurements, 4 weeks of Stappvoorstap app intervention, and 3 weeks of follow-up (11 total measurements).

Behavioral: Stappvoorstap: mobile self-management waitlist intervention

Group 3: 5-week baseline

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive 5 weeks of baseline measurements, 4 weeks of Stappvoorstap app intervention, and 3 weeks of follow-up (12 total measurements).

Behavioral: Stappvoorstap: mobile self-management waitlist intervention

Interventions

Stappvoorstap: mobile self-management waitlist intervention BEHAVIORAL

Stappvoorstap is a free mobile self-management application developed in co-creation with mental health waitlist clients. The app measures daily stress levels 2-4 times per day through short questionnaires, creates visual overviews of personal stress patterns on daily and weekly scales, provides real-time coping suggestions, offers mindfulness and relaxation exercises (breathing exercises, meditation, nature sounds, calming music), and includes informational articles and personal experience stories.

Group 1: 3-week baseline; Group 2: 4-week baseline; Group 3: 5-week baseline

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Currently on a waiting list at a mental health organization in the Netherlands.
• Aged 18 years or older
• Owns a smartphone and has the ability to operate it
• Sufficient proficiency in Dutch or English language (at least B1 level)

You may not qualify if:

• Currently enrolled in another medical-scientific research study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• GGZ Centraal: lead
• Leiden University Medical Center: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

GGZ Centraal

Almere Stad, Flevoland, 1326 AD, Netherlands

RECRUITING

Related Links

• Official website with information about the Stappvoorstap app, and resources for people on mental health waiting lists.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological; Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Personal Satisfaction

Central Study Contacts

Sevda Demirel, MSc

CONTACT

+31 6 57511938; s.demirel@ggzcentraal.nl

Yvette Roke, MD, PhD

CONTACT

+31 36 538 3250; y.roke@ggzcentraal.nl

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD Candidate

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 29, 2026
• First Posted: February 5, 2026
• Study Start: March 17, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Last Updated: February 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

NL (1)