Context: Stress preventive interventions should support behaviour change. Web-based programs are less resource demanding than face-to-face solutions. For the purpose of supporting behaviour change in persons with work related stress, the web-based program My Stress Control (MSC) was developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effect of MSC.
Methods: MSC’s feasibility was tested with 14 end-users before evaluating its effect in a two-armed RCT with 95 persons. The same procedure as for the RCT was used in the feasibility study. Questionnaires were used as data collection method. The primary outcome was perceived stress.
Intervention: MSC was built on evidence regarding theoretical frame, content and informational design. MSC is tailored to each individual by Stages of Change and with a functional behaviour analysis (FBA) conducted by the users in interactive assignments, steering the user to stress-management strategies. Techniques supporting behavioural change are integrated throughout the program.
Results: The feasibility of MSC reached above the pre-set cut-off score. The results of the RCT revealed no significant differences between groups in the primary outcome, but a small effect size was shown between intervention and wait-list group. Adherence was low with 25% of the participants in the intervention group responding to post assessment.
Conclusions: It is still uncertain if MSC is an effective method for supporting behaviour change in persons with work related stress. Further development must be conducted regarding adherence before next evaluation study. Nevertheless, the small effect size encourages further development and evaluation of MSC.