ProcrastinationNCT05478096
The Caring Universities Project: GetStarted RCT
A study testing GetStarted in people with Procrastination, run by VU University of Amsterdam at 1 site in Netherlands.
Trial summary
Within the Caring Universities project (study protocol VCWE- 2020-076 accepted by the VCWE), we have developed a guided e-health programme (GetStarted) designed to reduce procrastination in university students. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 16 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Procrastination
- What is being tested?
- GetStarted
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 176 participants
- Where
- 1 siteNetherlands
- Study dates
- 19 Nov 2021to Apr 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 16 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- aged 16 or older
- enrolled at one of the participating universities
- fluent in Dutch and/or English
- access to a PC or mobile device with internet access
- score 32 or above on the Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS)
- provide informed consent.
Who cannot join
- any suicidal risk by identifying if they (the participants) have had thoughts of killing themselves or have made plans of killing themselves in the past year and then responding to the question "How likely do you think it is that you will act on this plan in the next 12 months?" with somewhat likely or very likely
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pim Cuijpers, Dr. Prof contact
Netherlands1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Amsterdam, 1081 HV
Sascha Y Struijs, PhD, +31648206223, s.y.struijs@vu.nl
About this study
Official title: The Caring Universities Project: RCT Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Guided E-health Programme (GetStarted) in Reducing Procrastination in University Students
Within the Caring Universities project (study protocol VCWE- 2020-076 accepted by the VCWE), we have developed a guided e-health programme (GetStarted) designed to reduce procrastination in university students. With the current study, we aim to examine the effectiveness of GetStarted in reducing procrastination behaviour. Secondary goals are to gain an insight into pre-test to post-test differences regarding symptoms of low mood, anxiety and quality of life. Additionally, we aim to gain insight into the effects of participants' satisfaction with the intervention and Ecoach, the usability of the program, and treatment adherence on the effectiveness of the treatment.
Read the detailed description
The present study is a two-arm randomized control superiority trial. This trial will be conducted in a university setting. A guided web-based anti-procrastination programme (GetStarted) will be compared to a waiting list condition.
GetStarted was developed based on existing literature and adapted in collaboration with university students to meet the specific needs of the university students. We have conducted interviews with students to understand their opinions about this program and adapted it based on their preferences and needs. The programme is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It comprises five main modules that are delivered via computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone and four optional modules. Every module consists of evidence-based information, exercises, and homework assignments. The content is delivered in text format with pictures and infographics; some modules also include video clips and audio recordings on a relevant subject. The intervention is available in both English and Dutch.
Every week trained e-coaches (trained clinical psychology master students) will provide asynchronous written personalized feedback to each participant on the progress of the program and the exercises via the program platform. Measurements include pre- and post-assessment of procrastination behavior, common measures of psychopathology symptoms, quality of life, treatment adherence, program usability and participants' satisfaction with treatment and coaching.
All students currently enrolled at the participating universities (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Erasmus University, Universities of Leiden, Utrecht and Maastricht) are potentially eligible for the trial.
Benefits of participation and remuneration for the test subjects:
Students can participate in GetStarted free of charge, which will likely decrease their procrastination behavior. They do not receive any monetary incentives.
- Conditions
- Procrastination
- Being tested
- GetStarted
- Keywords
- procrastination, guided, e-health, university students, mental health
- Medical subject headings
- Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
GetStartedBehavioural
Guided internet-based intervention for procrastination.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| We-based intervention for procrastination | Experimental | GetStarted is a guided e-health application, based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It comprises 5 main and 4 optional modules that are delivered weekly via computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. Every week a trained e-coach will provide feedback on the progress of the program and the exercises via e-mail. The main modules are (1) psycho-education about procrastination (2) getting insight into one's own procrastination behavior, (3) uncovering unhelpful thoughts underlying procrastination and (4) replacing these unhelpful thoughts with helpful ones. Each module takes approximately 40 minutes to complete and participants will receive provide asynchronous written personalized feedback from their e-coaches within 48 hours (counting workdays only) after session completion. Receives: Behavioral: GetStarted |
| Wait list | No intervention | Participants in the waiting list condition will receive no treatment for four weeks post-randomization. Following this, they can start the program if they choose to do so. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in procrastination behaviours
The Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS) is used to assess procrastination tendencies by assessing extent to which participants procrastinate. This scale contains 9 items scored on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (very seldom or not true to me) to 5 (very often true or true to me).The total scores can range from 9 to 45 with highers score indicating higher levels of procrastination.
Measured: T0/T1 (Baseline) to T2/T3 (Post-test: 4-weeks) to T5 (Follow up: 6 months)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Change in depressive symptoms
The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is used as the measure of depression. This questionnaire consists of 9 items scored on a four-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). The total scores can range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indication more severe depressive symptoms
Measured: T1 (Baseline) to T2/T3 (Post-test: 4-weeks) to T5 (Follow up: 6 months)
Change in severity of stress
The perceived stress scale (PSS-10) is used as a self-report measure of perceived stress. It consists of 10 items scored on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often). The total scores range from 0-40, with a higher score indicating higher levels of perceived stress.
Measured: T1 (Baseline) to T2/T3 (Post-test: 4-weeks) to T5 (Follow up: 6 months)
Change in quality of life
The Mental Health Quality of Life questionnaire (MHQoL) is used to measure quality of life. It consists of 7 items scored on a four-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 3 (very satisfied). The total scores can range from 0-21 with higher scores indicating better quality of life.
Measured: T1 (Baseline) to T2/T3 (Post-test: 4-weeks) to T5 (Follow up: 6 months)
Change in Anxiety symptoms
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) is used to measure symptoms of generalized anxiety. The questionnaire consists of 7 items measured on a four-point Likert ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). The total scores range from 0 to 21 with higher scores indicating more severe GAD symptoms.
Measured: T1 (Baseline) to T2/T3 (Post-test: 4-weeks) to T5 (Follow up: 6 months)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Jul 2022
- Study start19 Nov 2021
- Primary completionNov 2022 (estimated)
- Study completionApr 2023 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for ProcrastinationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- The present study is a two-arm randomized control superiority trial. This trial will be conducted in a university setting. A guided web-based anti-procrastination programme (GetStarted) will be compared to a waiting list condition.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 176 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- VU University of Amsterdam
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Leiden University, Maastricht University, Utrecht University, Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Arpana Amarnath, VU University of Amsterdam
- Investigators
- Sascha Y Struijs, PhD, Principal investigator, VU University of Amsterdam
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05478096
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- VCWE-2021-193
- Status last verified
- Aug 2022
- First submitted
- 25 Jul 2022
- Last updated
- 10 Aug 2022
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Amarnath A, Ozmen S, van Klaveren C, van Straten A, Pei J, de Wit L, Raabe RE; Caring Universities Consortium; Cuijpers P, Struijs SY. Effectiveness of a guided internet-based intervention in reducing procrastination among university students - a randomized controlled trial. Internet Interv. 2025 Sep 29;42:100878. doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2025.100878. eCollection 2025 Dec.
PubMed 41080972Amarnath A, Ozmen S, Struijs SY, de Wit L, Cuijpers P. Effectiveness of a guided internet-based intervention for procrastination among university students - A randomized controlled trial study protocol. Internet Interv. 2023 Mar 3;32:100612. doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2023.100612. eCollection 2023 Apr.
PubMed 36922962
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Aug 2022. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Caring Universities Project: RCT Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Guided E-health Programme (GetStarted) in Reducing Procrastination in University Students
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05478096
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- VCWE-2021-193
- Conditions
- Procrastination
- Keywords
- procrastination, guided, e-health, university students, mental health
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 176 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- VU University of AmsterdamUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Leiden University, Maastricht University, Utrecht University, Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Study start
- 19 Nov 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Nov 2022 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Apr 2023 (estimated)
- First posted
- 28 Jul 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Within the Caring Universities project (study protocol VCWE- 2020-076 accepted by the VCWE), we have developed a guided e-health programme (GetStarted) designed to reduce procrastination in university students. With the current study, we aim to examine the effectiveness of GetStarted in reducing procrastination behaviour. Secondary goals are to gain an insight into pre-test to post-test differences regarding symptoms of low mood, anxiety and quality of life. Additionally, we aim to gain insight into the effects of participants' satisfaction with the intervention and Ecoach, the usability of the program, and treatment adherence on the effectiveness of the treatment.
Detailed description
The present study is a two-arm randomized control superiority trial. This trial will be conducted in a university setting. A guided web-based anti-procrastination programme (GetStarted) will be compared to a waiting list condition.
GetStarted was developed based on existing literature and adapted in collaboration with university students to meet the specific needs of the university students. We have conducted interviews with students to understand their opinions about this program and adapted it based on their preferences and needs. The programme is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It comprises five main modules that are delivered via computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone and four optional modules. Every module consists of evidence-based information, exercises, and homework assignments. The content is delivered in text format with pictures and infographics; some modules also include video clips and audio recordings on a relevant subject. The intervention is available in both English and Dutch.
Every week trained e-coaches (trained clinical psychology master students) will provide asynchronous written personalized feedback to each participant on the progress of the program and the exercises via the program platform. Measurements include pre- and post-assessment of procrastination behavior, common measures of psychopathology symptoms, quality of life, treatment adherence, program usability and participants' satisfaction with treatment and coaching.
All students currently enrolled at the participating universities (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Erasmus University, Universities of Leiden, Utrecht and Maastricht) are potentially eligible for the trial.
Benefits of participation and remuneration for the test subjects:
Students can participate in GetStarted free of charge, which will likely decrease their procrastination behavior. They do not receive any monetary incentives.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- The present study is a two-arm randomized control superiority trial. This trial will be conducted in a university setting. A guided web-based anti-procrastination programme (GetStarted) will be compared to a waiting list condition.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| We-based intervention for procrastination | Experimental | Behavioral: GetStartedGetStarted is a guided e-health application, based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It comprises 5 main and 4 optional modules that are delivered weekly via computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. Every week a trained e-coach will provide feedback on the progress of the program and the exercises via e-mail. The main modules are (1) psycho-education about procrastination (2) getting insight into one's own procrastination behavior, (3) uncovering unhelpful thoughts underlying procrastination and (4) replacing these unhelpful thoughts with helpful ones. Each module takes approximately 40 minutes to complete and participants will receive provide asynchronous written personalized feedback from their e-coaches within 48 hours (counting workdays only) after session completion. |
| Wait list | No intervention | –Participants in the waiting list condition will receive no treatment for four weeks post-randomization. Following this, they can start the program if they choose to do so. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 16 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- aged 16 or older
- enrolled at one of the participating universities
- fluent in Dutch and/or English
- access to a PC or mobile device with internet access
- score 32 or above on the Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS)
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- any suicidal risk by identifying if they (the participants) have had thoughts of killing themselves or have made plans of killing themselves in the past year and then responding to the question "How likely do you think it is that you will act on this plan in the next 12 months?" with somewhat likely or very likely
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| GetStartedGuided internet-based intervention for procrastination. | Behavioural | We-based intervention for procrastination |
Primary outcome
Change in procrastination behaviours
Time frame: T0/T1 (Baseline) to T2/T3 (Post-test: 4-weeks) to T5 (Follow up: 6 months)
The Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS) is used to assess procrastination tendencies by assessing extent to which participants procrastinate. This scale contains 9 items scored on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (very seldom or not true to me) to 5 (very often true or true to me).The total scores can range from 9 to 45 with highers score indicating higher levels of procrastination.
4 secondary outcomes
Change in depressive symptoms
Time frame: T1 (Baseline) to T2/T3 (Post-test: 4-weeks) to T5 (Follow up: 6 months)
Change in severity of stress
Time frame: T1 (Baseline) to T2/T3 (Post-test: 4-weeks) to T5 (Follow up: 6 months)
Change in quality of life
Time frame: T1 (Baseline) to T2/T3 (Post-test: 4-weeks) to T5 (Follow up: 6 months)
Change in Anxiety symptoms
Time frame: T1 (Baseline) to T2/T3 (Post-test: 4-weeks) to T5 (Follow up: 6 months)
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Aug 2022.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41080972Amarnath A, Ozmen S, van Klaveren C, van Straten A, Pei J, de Wit L, Raabe RE; Caring Universities Consortium; Cuijpers P, Struijs SY. Effectiveness of a guided internet-based intervention in reducing procrastination among university students - a randomized controlled trial. Internet Interv. 2025 Sep 29;42:100878. doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2025.100878. eCollection 2025 Dec.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 36922962Amarnath A, Ozmen S, Struijs SY, de Wit L, Cuijpers P. Effectiveness of a guided internet-based intervention for procrastination among university students - A randomized controlled trial study protocol. Internet Interv. 2023 Mar 3;32:100612. doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2023.100612. eCollection 2023 Apr.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Pim Cuijpers, Dr. Prof contact
Sascha Y Struijs, PhD principal investigator
VU University of Amsterdam
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing GetStarted in people with Procrastination, run by VU University of Amsterdam at 1 site in Netherlands.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Aug 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Netherlands. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Sascha Y Struijs, PhD (+316 48 20 62 23, s.y.struijs@vu.nl), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in procrastination behaviours (time frame: T0/T1 (Baseline) to T2/T3 (Post-test: 4-weeks) to T5 (Follow up: 6 months)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05478096, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Aug 2022.