An interventional study of A workplace-based depression intervention for low-wage hospital workers in Depression and Physical Inactivity, sponsored by San Diego State University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-16.
Sponsored by San Diego State University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This small randomized controlled trial will evaluate a workplace-based depression intervention that is tailored to the specific social and behavioral needs of low-wage hospital service workers. The intervention involves assessment of depression-related work impairment, work-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, work coaching, social needs screening and referral, and text message support for mood and physical activity.
Depression and physical inactivity are leading contributors to cardiometabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Low-wage workers, who comprise one third of all workers in the U.S. and are essential to many industries, are more likely to be physically inactive and to have cardiometabolic conditions and depression, yet the participants are half as likely as higher wage workers to utilize preventive care. Targeted workplace initiatives have been successful in improving employee health, but low-wage workers are difficult to engage, in part due to a high burden of social disadvantage (e.g., food and housing insecurity, time and financial constraints). There are few, if any, workplace interventions for depression that specifically target low-wage workers and the participants unique social risk factors. This study was designed using a planned adaptation approach that involved low-wage workers in the design of the intervention to increase engagement and feasibility. The study will test an evidence-based 8-session telephone-delivered depression intervention for working adults, Be Well at Work, and critical adaptations for low-wage workers: assessment and referrals for social determinants of health (e.g., food and housing insecurity, financial stress), physical activity promotion, and personalized text message behavioral support. The adapted intervention, Be Well at Work-PLUS, will be evaluated through a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing Be Well at Work-PLUS to a waitlist condition. The primary objectives are to assess acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary clinical outcomes. The primary preliminary clinical outcome is depression symptom severity, and secondary outcomes are physical activity, sleep quality, blood pressure, and BMI).
8,057 studies on the registry are indexed under Depression; 1,641 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 60 is below the median of 84 across 6,720 interventional studies indexed under Depression.
Browse Depression studies →San Diego State University is the lead sponsor of 145 studies on the registry; 41 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
The intervention consists of assessment of depression and work impairment, work-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, work coaching, social needs screening and referral, and text message support for mood and physical activity.
Behavioral: A workplace-based depression intervention for low-wage hospital workers
Delivered after a 4-month waitlist period, the intervention consists of assessment of depression and work impairment, work-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, work coaching, social needs screening and referral, and text message support for mood and physical activity.
Behavioral: A workplace-based depression intervention for low-wage hospital workers
This intervention is a remotely delivered workplace-based depression intervention that is tailored to the specific social and behavioral needs of low-wage hospital service workers. The intervention involves assessment of depression-related work impairment, work-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, work coaching, social needs screening and referral, and text message support for mood and physical activity.
Intervention feasibility
Feasibility will be assessed by the number of intervention sessions completed. The intervention will be considered feasible if the majority of participants complete 75% (6 of 8) or more phone sessions.
Time frame: From enrollment to end of treatment (approximately 4 months after enrollment).
Depression symptoms
Depression symptoms will be measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 item version (range 0-27, higher = worse depression symptoms)
Time frame: From baseline through end of treatment (approximately 4 months after enrollment).
Work limitations
Work limitations (range: 0-100%, higher = more limitation) will be measured by the Work Limitations Questionnaire.
Time frame: From baseline to end of treatment (approximately 4 months after enrollment)
Perceived stress
Perceived stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (range 0-40, higher = more perceived stress).
Time frame: From baseline to end of treatment (approximately 4 months after enrollment)
Sleep quality
Sleep quality and duration as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (range: 0-21, higher scores indicate worse sleep quality).
Time frame: Baseline, follow-up (4 months)
Physical activity - step count
Weekly step count as measured by wrist-worn FitBit watch
Time frame: Baseline, follow-up (4 months)
Body Mass Index
A weight-to-height ratio, calculated by dividing participant's weight in kilograms by height in meters squared.
Time frame: Baseline, follow-up (4 months)
Blood pressure
Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures
Time frame: Baseline, Follow-up (4 months)
Physical Activity (self-report)
Self-reported physical activity using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, Follow-up (4 months)
Plan to share: No — Currently we do not plan to share data as this is an open pilot study with a small number of participants (N=60), and thus it could be possible identify individuals.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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San Diego State University