Effectiveness of digital modified behavioral activation treatment program for rural older adults with depressive symptoms in Western Hunan: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Rural older adults experience a high burden of depressive symptoms and significant barriers to accessing mental health services. The Modified Behavioral Activation Treatment (MBAT) has been verified to be effective among rural older adults in China. Due to its structured format a...

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Main Authors: Yating Luo, Jingying Wang, Gang Gan, Min Liu, Zitong Lu, Sipei Jia, Mingyue Huang, Sha Wang, Minfei Gan, Jianfei Xie, Andy S. K. Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Psychology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02215-5
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author Yating Luo
Jingying Wang
Gang Gan
Min Liu
Zitong Lu
Sipei Jia
Mingyue Huang
Sha Wang
Minfei Gan
Jianfei Xie
Andy S. K. Cheng
author_facet Yating Luo
Jingying Wang
Gang Gan
Min Liu
Zitong Lu
Sipei Jia
Mingyue Huang
Sha Wang
Minfei Gan
Jianfei Xie
Andy S. K. Cheng
author_sort Yating Luo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Rural older adults experience a high burden of depressive symptoms and significant barriers to accessing mental health services. The Modified Behavioral Activation Treatment (MBAT) has been verified to be effective among rural older adults in China. Due to its structured format and skill-based learning, it is well suited for digital-based delivery. However, only a few studies were from developed countries, and the evidence to support its application in rural China still needs to be provided. Thus, based on the fact that digital health technology has the potential to address the shortage of healthcare resources and the constraints of community mental health services in rural China, the effectiveness of the digital MBAT (D-MBAT) program among rural older adults is worth further evaluation. Methods A multi-center randomized controlled trial will be conducted among 216 rural older adults from Huayuan County and Fenghuang County in Western Hunan. The intervention group will receive the D-MBAT program, while the control group will receive routine care. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, social health, quality of life, and satisfaction will be measured at baseline, one-month, and three-month follow-ups to evaluate the digital MBAT program’s effectiveness. Discussion Existing digital psychological intervention strategies seldom take into account the needs and preferences of the older adults in low-resource rural areas. Thus, this study aims to develop a D-MBAT program based on person-centered and community-engaged approach to maximize the mental health service of rural older adults with depressive symptoms.A successful D-MBAT program would be a feasible and scalable approach to the management of prevalent mental health conditions of rural older adults in resource-limited Western Hunan. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2400091193. Registered on 23 October 2024.
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spelling doaj-art-9df073195b5040249d8dc9e9fa812a222025-08-20T02:43:27ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832024-12-011211710.1186/s40359-024-02215-5Effectiveness of digital modified behavioral activation treatment program for rural older adults with depressive symptoms in Western Hunan: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trialYating Luo0Jingying Wang1Gang Gan2Min Liu3Zitong Lu4Sipei Jia5Mingyue Huang6Sha Wang7Minfei Gan8Jianfei Xie9Andy S. K. Cheng10Nursing Department, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityXiangya School of Nursing, Central South UniversityNursing Department, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityNursing Department, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityNursing Department, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityXiangya School of Nursing, Central South UniversityXiangya School of Nursing, Central South UniversityNursing Department, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityNursing Department, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityNursing Department, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversitySchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney UniversityAbstract Background Rural older adults experience a high burden of depressive symptoms and significant barriers to accessing mental health services. The Modified Behavioral Activation Treatment (MBAT) has been verified to be effective among rural older adults in China. Due to its structured format and skill-based learning, it is well suited for digital-based delivery. However, only a few studies were from developed countries, and the evidence to support its application in rural China still needs to be provided. Thus, based on the fact that digital health technology has the potential to address the shortage of healthcare resources and the constraints of community mental health services in rural China, the effectiveness of the digital MBAT (D-MBAT) program among rural older adults is worth further evaluation. Methods A multi-center randomized controlled trial will be conducted among 216 rural older adults from Huayuan County and Fenghuang County in Western Hunan. The intervention group will receive the D-MBAT program, while the control group will receive routine care. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, social health, quality of life, and satisfaction will be measured at baseline, one-month, and three-month follow-ups to evaluate the digital MBAT program’s effectiveness. Discussion Existing digital psychological intervention strategies seldom take into account the needs and preferences of the older adults in low-resource rural areas. Thus, this study aims to develop a D-MBAT program based on person-centered and community-engaged approach to maximize the mental health service of rural older adults with depressive symptoms.A successful D-MBAT program would be a feasible and scalable approach to the management of prevalent mental health conditions of rural older adults in resource-limited Western Hunan. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2400091193. Registered on 23 October 2024.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02215-5DigitalDepressive symptomsRural older adultsModified behavioral activation treatmentWestern Hunan
spellingShingle Yating Luo
Jingying Wang
Gang Gan
Min Liu
Zitong Lu
Sipei Jia
Mingyue Huang
Sha Wang
Minfei Gan
Jianfei Xie
Andy S. K. Cheng
Effectiveness of digital modified behavioral activation treatment program for rural older adults with depressive symptoms in Western Hunan: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial
BMC Psychology
Digital
Depressive symptoms
Rural older adults
Modified behavioral activation treatment
Western Hunan
title Effectiveness of digital modified behavioral activation treatment program for rural older adults with depressive symptoms in Western Hunan: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial
title_full Effectiveness of digital modified behavioral activation treatment program for rural older adults with depressive symptoms in Western Hunan: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Effectiveness of digital modified behavioral activation treatment program for rural older adults with depressive symptoms in Western Hunan: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of digital modified behavioral activation treatment program for rural older adults with depressive symptoms in Western Hunan: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial
title_short Effectiveness of digital modified behavioral activation treatment program for rural older adults with depressive symptoms in Western Hunan: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial
title_sort effectiveness of digital modified behavioral activation treatment program for rural older adults with depressive symptoms in western hunan study protocol for a multi center randomized controlled trial
topic Digital
Depressive symptoms
Rural older adults
Modified behavioral activation treatment
Western Hunan
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02215-5
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