Attrition and user engagement are two challenges that eHealth interventions strugglewith. Attempts to address this have been previously made through gamification,instructional design and using different types of incentives. Overall, any type ofreward, be it non-financial or monetary is better than the controls, but the latterusually produce a greater effect. It is also worth mentioning that having an affectivevalue attached to the reward itself is also important to user retention and engagement.Given the ever-increasing interest in cryptocurrency and its current relevance, thepresent study - a randomized clinical trial with three arms - aims to comparecryptocurrency to non-monetary rewards regarding their effectiveness in reducingattrition and increasing engagement. In order to do this, a mental-health computerizedintervention will be developed, in which the users will have to complete several modules,during which time they will be rewarded either with cryptocurrency, sweepstake rewards(e.g., vouchers), or nothing.
Albeit effective, eHealth interventions suffer from very high dropout rates. Finding
novel ways in which to maximise user retention and engagement in such settings can be
beneficial, and exploring cryptocurrency as a potential reward may be worthwhile, since
motivation seems to increase as the reward is perceived as more meaningful by the
recipient.
The design is experimental, between-subjects, with one independent variable (the type of
reward offered) and mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress, and transdiagnostic
constructs) as well as engagement and retention outcomes. Thus, three groups will be
formed: two in which participants will be enrolled in the modular MOTO intervention and
will receive different rewards, and one in which they will not receive any intervention
or reward but will be evaluated as part of a waitlist control group. The modular MOTO
intervention involves, in addition to the mentioned assessments, the completion of six
weekly modules, each focused on specific aspects of mental health and containing
exercises that may improve psychological well-being. These modules are automated,
requiring no interaction with others (except for communication between participants and
research team). Each of these modules contains the following: psychoeducational
section(s) that participants must complete; a short test of 5-10 questions after each
section to assess understanding of the material; (only for the first two groups); a link
where they can obtain their rewards; the exercise corresponding to that module; the
evaluation corresponding to that module.
Behavioral: Multipurpose Online Tool
The intervention consists of 6 psychoeducational modules, on the Canvas teaching
platform. They are automated, requiring no interaction with others (except for
communication between participants and the team). Participants go through the
psychoeducational modules, then do the corresponding exercise, and then access their
rewards (if they belong to the experimental or comparative groups).
Other: No intervention
The participants will be assessed but without any intervention
Inclusion Criteria:
- English speaking
Exclusion Criteria:
-
University of Bucharest
Bucharest, Romania
Investigator: Cezar Giosan, PhD
Contact: +40730908050
giosan@outlook.com
Cezar Giosan, PhD
+40730908050
giosan@outlook.com
Not Provided