Efficacy of a web-based integrated growth mindset intervention on reducing anxiety among social work and counseling practicum trainees: protocol for a 2-Arm randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Practicum is indispensable for the development of professional practitioners; yet, trainees may encounter psychological distress, especially anxiety, brought on by new challenges. Research stated that a positive mindset promotes better learning and mental status. Well-designed interventions have been shown to relieve anxiety and help trainees thrive in their practicumsand professions. The proposed study adapted an integrated intervention, We-SMILE (Web-Based Single-Session Intervention of Mindset on Intelligence, Failure, and Emotion), for improving prepracticum anxiety and coping. We-SMILE has the potentialto be a low-intensity self-help prepracticum intervention to support students in adjusting their mindsets and overcoming the challenges in practicum. Objective: Using a 2-arm randomized controlled trial, this study aims to examinethe efficacy of We-SMILE on reducing anxiety (primary outcome) and enhancing psychological status, psychological well-being, learning orientation, academic self-efficacy, and confidence (secondary outcomes). Methods: A total of 117 students will be recruited from the social work and counseling programs and randomly assigned to existing prepracticum training (training as usual [TAU]) or that plus the We-SMILE. Participants will be assessed repeatedly at 3 time points: baseline, 2 weeks post intervention, and 8 weeks post intervention. The outcomeswill be measured by validated items and scales on anxiety, mindsets, psychological well-being, and the Failure Mindset Scale. Recruitment for the pilot study was initiated in May 2024 during social work and counseling prepracticum briefing sessions. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention orTAU group. The intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis principleand linear regression-based maximum likelihood multilevel models will be used for data analysis. Results: This study has received research ethics approval in May 2024. Participant recruitment started at the end of May 2024, and enrollment was ongoing as of when this protocol was submitted. Data collection and analyses are expected to be complete in 2025. Conclusions: The randomized controlled trial will compare the efficacy of the We-SMILE intervention group and the TAU group. The results of this study will benefit practicum students, fieldwork supervisors, and social work and counseling programs. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06509802; https://tinyurl.com/36vkwd63