An Internet-based intervention for eating disorders consisting of automated computer-tailored feedback with or without supplemented frequent or infrequent support from a coach: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Several Internet-based interventions for eating disorders have shown their effectiveness. Still, there is a need to refine such interventions given that most existing programs seem to be limited by their static 'one-size-fits-all' approach. 'Featback', an Internet-based intervention for symptoms of eating disorders provides a more individualized approach. It consists of several components (psychoeducation, a fully automated monitoring and feedback system, and support from a coach), which can be matched to participants' needs and preferences. Until now, it is unclear whether online self-help interventions for eating disorders with support are more effective than those without. The aims of the current study are i) to examine the relative effectiveness of (the different components of) Featback; ii) to examine predictors, moderators and mediators of intervention responses; iii) to report on practical experiences with Featback; and iv) to examine the cost-effectiveness of Featback. METHODS/DESIGN: Individuals aged 16 years or older, with mild to severe eating disorder symptoms will be randomized to one of the four study conditions. In condition one, participants receive the basic version of Featback, consisting of psychoeducation and a fully automated monitoring and feedback system. In conditions two and three, participants receive the basic version of Featback supplemented with the possibility of infrequent (weekly) or frequent (three times a week) e-mail, chat, or Skype support from a coach, respectively. The fourth condition is a waiting list control condition. Participants are assessed at baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), and at 3- and 6-month follow-up (the latter except for participants in the waiting list control condition). Primary outcome measures are disordered eating behaviors and attitudes. Secondary outcome measures are (eating disorder-related) quality of life, self-stigma of seeking help, self-esteem, mastery and support, symptoms of depression and anxiety, repetitive negative thinking, motivation to change, user satisfaction, compliance, and help-seeking attitudes and behaviors. DISCUSSION: This study aims to provide more insight into the (cost-) effectiveness of Internet-based interventions for eating disorders, particularly those with and without professional support, as well as different levels of support. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR3646.
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A small between-group effect size (Cohen's d = 0.40) is expected.
“A small between-group effect size (Cohen’ s d = 0.40) is expected.”
From Cost-effectiveness of the mobile application TCApp combined with face-to-face CBT treatment compared to face-to-face CBT treatment alone for patients with an eating disorder: Study protocol of a multi-centre randomised controlled trial (2018) · cites this paper as [58]
The Methods > Sample size section specifies an expected small between-group effect size of Cohen’s d = 0.32, not 0.40. The claim gives a different value for the same expectation. (LLM, conf=0.93)
Checked by a reasoning model — may be wrong.
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe a priori sample size calculation was based on results from previous studies that implemented Internet-based programs in the treatment of eating disorders.
“The a priori sample size calculation was based on results from previous studies that implemented Internet-based programs in the treatment of EDs [58–60].”
From Cost-effectiveness of the mobile application TCApp combined with face-to-face CBT treatment compared to face-to-face CBT treatment alone for patients with an eating disorder: Study protocol of a multi-centre randomised controlled trial (2018) · cites this paper as [58]
The Methods > Sample size section describes an a priori calculation for an Internet-based eating-disorder intervention. It bases the calculation on an expected effect size and a dropout estimate from Internet-based interventions generally, not on reported results of previous Internet-based eating-disorder treatment studies. This paper is a study protocol and does not report treatment results of its own. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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Intervention through internet to improve health cognitive factors in adolescents
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- Authors
- Aardoom, J. J., Dingemans, A. E., Spinhoven, P., Roijen, L. H.-V., & Van Furth, E. F.
- Affiliations
- Leiden University (NL)
- Erasmus University Rotterdam (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Aardoom, Jiska J
- Venue
- Trials
- Published
- 2013
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 340
- ISSN
- 1745-6215 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3853403
- OpenAlex
- W2117976845
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4
- FWCI
- 1.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Trials (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- RePub (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
- RePub (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- European Commission
- Rivierduinen
- Executive Agency for Health and Consumers
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- eating disorders, online intervention, automated monitoring, coach support, online self-help, psychoeducation, disordered eating, cost-effectiveness, help-seeking attitudes, self-stigma, quality of life, self-esteem, anxiety and depression, repetitive negative thinking, motivation for change, user satisfaction
- MeSH terms
- Feeding and Eating Disorders, Automation, Clinical Protocols, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Counseling, Feeding Behavior, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Patient Education as Topic, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, Research Design, Therapy, Computer-Assisted, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome, Health Care Costs, Internet, Feedback, Psychological
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