Online psychosocial group intervention for adolescents with a chronic illness: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of , a protocolled online psychosocial group intervention for adolescents with a chronic illness (CI).

Methods: Adolescents (12-18 years) with different types of CI ( = 59; Mean age = 15.1 years, SD = 1.7; 54% female) participated in a parallel multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing ( = 35) with a waitlist control group ( = 24). Assessments (online questionnaires) took place at baseline (T0), 6-months (T1) and 12-months follow-up (T2). Primary outcomes were internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems and disease-related coping skills. Health-Related Quality of Life was secondary. Efficacy was tested with linear mixed models.

Results: Compared to the control group, the intervention had a significant positive effect ( < .05) on disease-related coping skills T1 vs T0 (use of relaxation, β = 0.68; social competence, β = 0.57) and T2 vs T0 (information seeking, β = 0.61), and on HRQoL (social-, school-, psychosocial functioning and total HRQoL) T1 vs T0 (β = 0.52 to β = 0.60). No intervention effects on internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems were found.

Conclusion: The results of this randomized controlled trial indicate a positive effect of . The intervention had beneficial effects on disease-related coping skills and HRQoL.

Practice Implications: The next step is to implement for adolescents in clinical practice.