Efficacy of Online-Based Intervention for Anxiety during COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Kurniawan Kurniawan, Iyus Yosep, Sidik Maulana (), Aep Maulid Mulyana, Shakira Amirah, Muhammad Fahd Abdurrahman, Aulia Sugianti, Enzel Gabriela Putri, Khoirunnisa Khoirunnisa, Maria Komariah, Kelvin Kohar and Laili Rahayuwati
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Kurniawan Kurniawan: Department of Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung 45363, Indonesia
Iyus Yosep: Department of Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung 45363, Indonesia
Sidik Maulana: Professional Nursing Program, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung 45363, Indonesia
Aep Maulid Mulyana: Professional Nursing Program, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung 45363, Indonesia
Shakira Amirah: Undergraduate Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
Muhammad Fahd Abdurrahman: Undergraduate Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
Aulia Sugianti: Professional Nursing Program, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung 45363, Indonesia
Enzel Gabriela Putri: Professional Nursing Program, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung 45363, Indonesia
Khoirunnisa Khoirunnisa: Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung 45363, Indonesia
Maria Komariah: Department of Fundamental Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung 45363, Indonesia
Kelvin Kohar: Undergraduate Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
Laili Rahayuwati: Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung 45363, Indonesia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-17

Abstract: COVID-19 has caused widespread psychological suffering. Anxiety is one of the several psychological disorders that are escalating globally, yet social distance constraints restrict in-person mental health therapy. Anxiety and other psychological disorders whose treatments are limited due to social distancing continue to grow, so there is an increasing need to use mental healthcare that can be offered remotely, especially in the pandemic era. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of online-based interventions for anxiety during COVID-19. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). We collected data from three databases, namely PubMed, CINAHL, and Oxford Library Press, published in 2020–2022. Additionally, we collected data using the snowball technique. This meta-analysis analyzed the pooled mean difference (MD) and its p -value using random-effects models. Critical appraisal and risk of bias were assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias (Rob) 2. We retrieved 34 RCTs for systematic review and 14 RCTs for meta-analysis, yielding 9159 participants for general anxiety disorder (GAD-7) measurement and 1303 participants for depression anxiety stress scale (DASS-21) measurement. This study shows that online-based interventions significantly reduce GAD-7 score (a pooled MD of 1.30; 95% CI: 2.83–4.65; p = 0.00001) and insignificantly reduce DASS-21 (0.05; 95% CI: −2.63–2.72; p = 0.97) according to pre- and post-test in intervention group. Additionally, there is a significant difference between the intervention and control groups, where the intervention group performed statistically progressively better than the controls (−7.26; 95% CI: −11.58–−2.95; p = 0.001) (−2.08; 95% CI: −6.71–2.55; p = 0.001). Online-based interventions have proved effective for reducing general anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, this meta-analysis can be adapted as a model for mental health services in the new normal.

Keywords: anxiety; COVID-19; global population; online-based intervention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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