Efficacy of guided internet-assisted intervention on depression reduction among educational technology students of Nigerian universities

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) 2020-02, Vol.99 (6), p.e18774-e18774
• Main Authors: Ofoegbu, Theresa Onyema, Asogwa, Uche, Otu, Mkpoikanke Sunday, Ibenegbu, Christopher, Muhammed, Abdullahi, Eze, Ben
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Clinical Trial/Experimental Study; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Depressive Disorder - therapy; Educational Technology; Female; Humans; Internet; Male; Nigeria; Psychometrics; Students - psychology; Telemedicine; Treatment Outcome; Universities; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000018774

The study's objective was to determine the efficacy of guided internet-assisted intervention (GIAI) on depression reduction among educational technology students of Nigerian universities. The design of the study was a 10-weeks group-randomized trial (GRT) which involved a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessment. A total of 192 educational technology students who were identified as having depression formed the sample of the study. Beck's Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was the measure used for data collection in the study. Data collected were analyzed using ANOVA with repeated measures. The initial assessment results showed that the participants in both treatment and usual-care control groups had depression. After 10-weeks participation in GIAI, the assessment results showed a significant reduction in depression among students in the treatment group when compared to those in the usual-care control group. The follow-up assessment indicated a further significant reduction in the depression among participants in the treatment group when compared to those in the usual-care control group. The authors concluded that GIAI was significantly effective in reducing depression among university students in the treatment group compared to those in the usual-care control group. Therefore, educational technologists, counselors, psychologists, health workers, and other social workers should adopt educational intervention using GIAI in helping university students undergo depression reduction.