Effects of a brief health education video on employees’ mental health help-seeking in small and medium-sized enterprises: A randomized controlled trial

A BSTRACT Context: Many employees cannot consult appropriate professional organizations when they face mental health problems. The occupational health system is inadequate in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To address this, a brief health education video was developed for SMEs. Aims: This study aimed to identify the effects of a brief health education video on employees’ mental health help-seeking in SMEs. Settings and Design: This study employed randomized controlled trial design with monitors from a web research company. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned. The survey was conducted at three time points. Outcomes included help-seeking attitudes, intention, efficacy, and knowledge. This study was registered in UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000053571). Statistical Analysis Used: Multiple linear regression analyses were performed using the change in scores from pre- to postintervention and from pre- to follow-up as dependent variables. For the subgroup analysis, we conducted a repeated-measures analysis of variance to examine differences among the three time points in each group. Results: There was no significance of type of intervention groups from pre- to postintervention and from pre- to follow-up. In the subgroup analysis, significant differences in terms of help-seeking attitudes, efficacy, and knowledge were observed in both groups. Multiple comparisons revealed significant increases in scores from pre- to postintervention but significant decreases from postintervention to follow-up. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that a brief health education video and leaflet increased help-seeking and knowledge from pre- to postintervention. Such material could thus be used by SMEs to develop appropriate mental health measures.