Effectiveness of a scalable, remotely delivered stepped-care intervention for psychological distress among Polish migrant workers in the Netherlands: The RESPOND randomised controlled trial

The newly published study, known as RESPOND, examines the effectiveness of a specific intervention for Polish migrant workers experiencing psychological distress in the Netherlands. The trial, conducted over several months, aimed to determine if a remote, step-by-step care approach could help those struggling with anxiety and depression.

Migrant workers who scored 16 or higher on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale were recruited through various means, including social media and community spaces. These individuals were then randomly divided into two groups: one receiving standard care and the other receiving the new stepped-care intervention.

The stepped-care intervention involved two main components. First, participants engaged in guided online self-help using the Doing What Matters in Times of Stress program. If their distress levels persisted, they then received individualized psychological support through videoconferencing, known as Problem Management Plus.

Throughout the trial, participants underwent four assessment points: at the beginning (week 1), after the initial online self-help session (week 7), following the Problem Management Plus intervention (week 13), and 2 months later (week 21). The primary measure of success was a composite score combining anxiety and depression levels, which was tracked throughout the study.

The results showed that participants in the intervention group experienced a significant reduction in their PHQ-ADS scores by the 2-month follow-up compared to those in the control group. Specifically, the intervention group had a mean PHQ-ADS score of 14.8, while the control group had a mean score of 21.3. This translates to a difference of 6.52 points (95% confidence interval: -8.73 to -4.31), indicating a moderate effect size.

These improvements were consistent across various checkpoints, with significant differences observed after the initial online self-help session and after the Problem Management Plus intervention. Moreover, among those who completed the post-DWM assessment, the majority (89.5%) still met the criteria for receiving the Problem Management Plus intervention.

While the study had some limitations, such as a relatively small, non-generalizable sample and a short follow-up period, the findings still provide valuable evidence supporting the use of a remotely delivered stepped-care approach for Polish migrant workers experiencing psychological distress in the Netherlands.