Effect of a Programme Including an AI-enhanced Mobile Application on the Mental Well- Being of Young Adolescents in Hong Kong

NCT07704996 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: HMRF2026_TMP17526
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 300
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Study Aim and Methods (≈250 words) It aims to evaluate the effectiveness, user perceptions, and applicability of the e-CAMP intervention in improving mental well-being and reducing depressive symptoms among adolescents aged 11-15 years. The primary research question is whether e-CAMP can significantly reduce depressive symptoms, measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Secondary objectives are to examine whether e-CAMP : improves mental health literacy using the Chinese-version Universal Mental Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents (UMHL), promotes healthier smart device use as measured by the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), increases physical activity assessed through the Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ) , and to evaluate participants' perceptions of the intervention's applicability, acceptability through survey. A prospective two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) following CONSORT 2010 guidelines will be conducted in eight eligible Hong Kong schools, which will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or usual-care group. A process evaluation will also be undertaken. 320 students will be recruited with inclusion criteria : Chinese students aged 11-15 years (Primary 5 to Secondary 2) with parental consent. Students with physical, cognitive, or mental conditions that may affect participation will be excluded. Students in the intervention group will receive usual school care and access to the e-CAMP mobile app, which they will be encouraged to use at least three times weekly for eight weeks (10-15 minutes per session). Students in the control group will receive usual school care, including a 45-minute nurse-led health talk and PowerPoint handouts.

Conditions

Mental Health; Depression and/or Anxiety in the Mild-to-moderate Range

Keywords

mental health; depression; adolescents; programme; AI; mobile application

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• change of depression scoreby Patient Health questionnaire (PHQ9 )

  Depressive symptoms will be assessed using the PHQ9 \[13\], a widely used depression screening tool comprising nine items (scores: 0-3) and a total score range of 0-27. Scores of 0-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15-19, and ≥20 indicate minimal, mild, moderate, moderate-severe, and severe depression, respectively. The PHQ9 has good psychometric properties for use in adolescent populations

  4 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change in mental health literarcy by The Chinese-version UMHL for adolescents

  4 months

• Change in amart phone addiction (SAS)

  4 months

• Change in exercise behaviour by Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ)

  4 months

Study Arms (2)

experimental : app group

EXPERIMENTAL

app group :The e-CAMP mobile app is an AI-enhanced behavioural health promotion intervention in which AI functionalities support engagement and timely prompting. The app's front page directs users to two sections: an educational module and an individual member area. The educational module includes animations and five learning units covering: 1. Facts and risk factors for depression in adolescents. 2. Depressive signs, symptoms, and care. 3. Strategies/tips for promoting well being (healthy diet, exercise, balanced use of smart devices and social media). 4. Stress management and substance abuse avoidance. 5. Help seeking resources. The individual member area displays personalised data on daily physical activities (goal, type and duration). Students can access AI enhanced self learning features, the Three Kingdoms game, and self reflection functions.

Device: mobile app group

control group : face to face health talk

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in control schools will be selected based on the above-stated inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligible students will receive usual school care, a 45-minute health talk delivered by a nurse, and a mental health assessment survey . The health talk, titled 'Enhance mental well-being and prevent depression', has been generated from e-CAMP app content. A PowerPoint handout will be provided to all participants after the health talk. Upon study completion, all participants will receive access to the e-CAMP mobile app and an installation guide.

Behavioral: Control Group :health talk and usual care by school

Interventions

Control Group :health talk and usual care by school BEHAVIORAL

control group-usual care . Eligible students will receive usual school care, a 45-minute health talk delivered by a nurse . The health talk, titled 'Enhance mental well-being and prevent depression', has been generated from e-CAMP app content. A PowerPoint handout will be provided to all participants after the health talk.

control group : face to face health talk

mobile app group DEVICE

In addition to receiving the usual school care, participants in intervention schools will be provided a QR code and installation guide and instructed to install the e-CAMP mobile app. WhatsApp groups will be established among students (approx. 15 students/class), volunteer schoolteachers, and research assistants (RAs) to facilitate communication and address inquiries. Participants will be encouraged to use the e-CAMP app at least thrice weekly during the first 8 weeks of the intervention. Each usage session is expected to last approximately 10-15 minutes. Participants can share and discuss the e-CAMP app with their parents.

experimental : app group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 11 Years - 15 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may not qualify if:

• Students with known physical (musculoskeletal) or cognitive/mental problems that would compromise physical exercise or our intervention or outcomes will be excluded.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Tung Wah College: lead
• Chinese University of Hong Kong: collaborator
• Hong Kong Metropolitan University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Tung Wah College

Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 00, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being; Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms

Study Officials

• Eliza ML Wong, PhD

  Tung Wah College

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Eliza ML Wong, PhD

CONTACT

852-3468-6803; elizawong@twc.edu.hk

Alan HL Tam, PhD

CONTACT

852-3943-9306; hltam@cuhk.edu.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: the researcher who will do the data analysis
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: Experimental group : In addition to receiving the usual school care, participants in intervention schools will be provided with a QR code and installation guide and instructed to install the e-CAMP mobile app. Participants will be encouraged to use the e-CAMP app at least thrice weekly during the first 8 weeks of the intervention. Each usage session is expected to last approximately 10-15 minutes. Participants can share and discuss the e-CAMP app with their parents. Control group : Participants in control schools will be selected based on the above-stated inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligible students will receive usual school care, a 45-minute health talk delivered by a nurse, and a mental health assessment survey. The health talk, titled 'Enhance mental well-being and prevent depression', has been generated from e-CAMP app content. A PowerPoint handout will be provided to all participants after the health talk.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 10, 2026
• First Posted: July 15, 2026
• Study Start: August 3, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2028
• Last Updated: July 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)