A web-based psychoeducational programme for trauma-related symptoms in Indonesian undergraduate students: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Potentially traumatic events (PTEs) are prevalent among Indonesian students. Web-based psychoeducation might increase mental health literacy and reduce barriers to healthcare access. We developed Pulihkan Luka (PL), a web-based psychoeducation programme for Indonesian undergraduate students. This pilot randomized controlled trial assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of PL. Students ( = 130) were randomly assigned to (1) four to seven sessions of PL + Enhanced Usual Care (PL+EUC;  = 64) or (2) EUC only ( = 66). EUC included a leaflet with referral options to available (mental) health services. Participants received baseline, post-intervention, three- and six-month follow-up assessments. Twenty participants from the treatment group were invited to participate in a focus group discussion. The feasibility and acceptability of PL were examined as primary outcomes based on module completion, MT4C-in-Care feasibility survey, IIAQ-ID, and SIN-E-Stress user satisfaction survey. Secondary outcomes included mental health literacy (MHL questionnaire), psychological well-being (WHO-5), help-seeking intention (GHSQ), symptoms of PTSD (PCL-5), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and insomnia (ISI). The results indicated a high acceptability of PL (90.63% willing to use the intervention and 89.06% satisfied with the intervention). The uptake and adherence to the intervention were high, with 92.18% completing the first module and 75% completing all assigned modules. However, the feasibility was somewhat lower (59.38% reported sufficient energy and time to complete the modules). The PL+EUC group improved significantly more in mental health literacy compared to EUC only from baseline to post-intervention ( = -0.99, (140) = 3.64,  = .02). The PL+EUC group did not improve more in psychological well-being and help-seeking intentions, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and insomnia compared to EUC only. PL is the first web-based trauma psychoeducation programme in Indonesia, and it was found to be feasible and acceptable for Indonesian undergraduate students, as well as to improve mental health literacy. Thai Clinical Trials Registry identifier: TCTR20230721001.