Product Highlight
Condition targeted:
Stress and burnout
How it works:
HelloBetter Stress and Burnout is a digital therapeutic program aimed at reducing stress. Burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. The primary clinical outcome that was measured for HelloBetter studies is the reduction of stress symptoms. Stress represents an important risk factor for other mental and physical conditions. This program addresses mental health symptoms – depression, anxiety and sleep – and work-related health symptoms – emotional exhaustion and work commitment – simultaneously. This digital intervention was developed and evaluated by a team of scientists and psychotherapists and is based on the well-established methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The program was extensively studied and found to be effective in eight randomized controlled trials. It has high satisfaction rates with 91 % of the participants saying that they would recommend it to a friend.
Impact:
Clinically proven to reduce stress symptoms and other mental and work-related health outcomes including symptoms of depression and anxiety. Also proven to be cost-effective from both an employer’s and a public health perspective.
Product Overview
Medical condition:
HelloBetter Stress and Burnout is designed for adults who meet criteria for the ICD-10 additional coding Z73 Problems related to life-management difficulty.
Target patient population:
Individuals who wish to overcome the effect of stress on their daily lives and their work.
What to expect:
HelloBetter Stress and Burnout is a 12-week program that is structured into seven core units and a follow-up unit. We recommend completing one unit per week, and the follow-up four weeks after completing the program. Each unit takes approximately 45-60 minutes to complete.
Note: for more information, please visit https://hellobetter.de/en/online-courses/burnout-stress/
Clinical Overview
Indications for use:
HelloBetter Stress and Burnout is a digital therapeutic program aimed at reducing stress, an important risk factor for other mental and physical conditions.
Outcomes:
Participants reported a sustained reduction of stress levels as well as depressive symptoms, anxiety and sleep issues.
Directions:
HelloBetter Stress and Burnout delivers well-founded psychoeducation via text, video, and audio recordings, and teaches effective strategies from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) concepts. These include problem-solving techniques, behavioral activation and emotion regulation strategies (in particular acceptance of negative feelings, self-support and relaxation). Goals are set and formulated in such a way that they are specific, realistic, and achievable. The 12-week program is structured into seven core units and a follow-up unit. Each unit takes approximately 45-60 minutes to complete. In addition to the course units and practical exercises, the program grants access to an online journal, and recurring symptom checks to record, monitor and evaluate one’s own progress.
Risks & warnings:
HelloBetter Stress and Burnout may not be suitable for people without internet, wifi, a mobile or desktop device. This digital therapeutic was developed and evaluated on adults aged 18 years and older.
Place in therapy:
Complementary to therapy or as a standalone solution. The program is also suitable for bridging the waiting time for a place in psychotherapy and as support after treatment has been completed.
Product Access
Product description:
HelloBetter Stress and Burnout is accessible through mobile and web.
Prescription status:
A prescription is not required. In Germany, it has been listed as a digital health application (‘DiGA’), meaning that a diagnosis or prescription leads to universal reimbursement. However, individuals without a diagnosis can access the program through self-pay, or via their care provider.
Patient access:
Eligible users can access the program online or through the HelloBetter app on iOS or Android devices.
Use of this product requires access to:
- Internet or wifi
- and a mobile phone, tablet, or computer
Provider access:
Full provider access is given if providers (e.g. clinic) purchase HelloBetter through their ‘Software-As-A-Service’ offering, which allows providers to add patients, choose products for patients, guide the patients, through the product via messages, chat, and regular feedback, etc. Patients may choose to export their information via a downloadable file to certain healthcare providers. This file contains all relevant information on patient progress and symptoms and can be integrated with major EHRs going forward.
Coverage options:
In Germany, HelloBetter Stress and Burnout is eligible for prescription and covered by statutory health insurance in Germany – making it available free of charge to over 73 million people.
Product availability:
HelloBetter Stress and Burnout is available in:
- Germany: Class I CE mark (MDR)
- Switzerland: Class I CE mark (MDR)
- Austria: Class I CE mark (MDR)
Unique Features.
HelloBetter Stress and Burnout is the world’s most clinically-validated digital intervention for managing and reducing stress.
Clinical Trials
The provided set of evidence represents a sample of conducted studies. For a comprehensive collection contact manufacturers directly.
- Study Title: Internet- and mobile-based stress management for employees with adherence-focused guidance: efficacy and mechanism of change – 2016
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial
Outcomes: Compared to the control group, employees in the intervention group showed a significantly higher reduction of stress symptoms with effects observed directly after completing the program, after seven weeks and after 6 months. Significant effects in favor of the intervention group were also found for depression, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, sleeping problems, worrying, quality of life (mental health), psychological detachment and emotion regulation skills. - Study Title: A three-armed randomised controlled trial investigating the comparative impact of guidance on the efficacy of a web-based stress management intervention and health impairing and promoting mechanisms of prevention – 2021
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial
Outcomes: Employees with high levels of reported stress were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) guided, 2) unguided or 3) wait list control group. The study revealed significant effects for stress symptoms both 7 weeks after completing the course and at the 6 months follow-up for both interventions groups (guided and unguided) compared to the control condition. No significant differences were found between the guided and unguided groups. - Study Title: Effectiveness of an Internet- and App-Based Intervention for College Students With Elevated Stress: Randomized Controlled Trial – 2018
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial
Outcomes: This study was conducted on a sample of college students with high levels of reported depressive symptoms. For participants who used the program, there was significant improvements across stress, anxiety, depression, college-related productivity, academic work impairment with sustained effects after 7 weeks. Effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up. - Study Title: Self-guided internet-based and mobile-based stress management for employees: results of a randomised controlled trial – 2016
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial
Outcomes: Compared to the control group, employees in the intervention group showed a significantly higher reduction of stress symptoms with effects observed directly after completing the program, after seven weeks and after 6 months. Significant effects in favor of the intervention group were also found for depression, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, sleeping problems, worrying, mental health-related quality of life, psychological detachment, emotion regulation skills and presenteeism. - Study Title: Web-Based and Mobile Stress Management Intervention for Employees: A Randomized Controlled Trial – 2016
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial
Outcomes: This study was conducted on employees with high levels of reported stress. Significant differences between the intervention group and the control condition were found for symptoms of stress at posttest (7 weeks) and were maintained at the 6 and 12 -month follow-up.
Note: for more research, please visit https://hellobetter.de/en/research/