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Trial registered on ANZCTR


Registration number
ACTRN12625000024448
Ethics application status
Approved
Date submitted
1/10/2024
Date registered
15/01/2025
Date last updated
15/01/2025
Date data sharing statement initially provided
15/01/2025
Date results information initially provided
15/01/2025
Type of registration
Retrospectively registered

Titles & IDs
Public title
Overcoming Procrastination: Efficacy of Group Therapy in University Students
Scientific title
Academic Procrastination among University Students: Application of Reality Therapy Based Group Intervention
Secondary ID [1] 313058 0
Nil
Universal Trial Number (UTN)
U1111-1313-9922
Trial acronym
BOOST – Breaking Out of Students' Procrastination with Therapy
Linked study record

Health condition
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied:
Academic Procrastination 335290 0
Condition category
Condition code
Mental Health 331866 331866 0 0
Studies of normal psychology, cognitive function and behaviour

Intervention/exposure
Study type
Interventional
Description of intervention(s) / exposure
Academic Procrastination among University Students: Application of Reality Therapy Based Group Intervention
The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a reality therapy-based psycho-educational group intervention on the academic procrastination of university students. Intervention materials were delivered by the researcher Nosheen (Ms. scholar with a Post-Magisterial Diploma in Clinical Psychology and 1.5 years of experience as an Associate Clinical Psychologist at the Center for Counselling and Social Wellbeing (UOH-CCSW), The University of Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). The sample size for the intervention consisted of 40 participants (20 in the intervention group and 20 in the control group).
The intervention was based on eight face-to-face sessions held at the University of Haripur Center for Counselling and Social Wellbeing (UOH-CCSW). Sessions were conducted twice a week over one month, with each session lasting 75 to 90 minutes. All sessions were interactive and included activities related to the topics.
The first session focused on familiarizing members with one another, explaining rules and objectives, and building knowledge about academic procrastination, its causes, and its effects on students’ academic performance and overall well-being. The second session introduced participants to choice theory and the five basic needs (Survival, Love & Belonging, Power, Freedom, and Fun). In the third session, basic needs, strategies, and actions to increase efficiency and reduce procrastination were reviewed. The fourth session taught participants about the components of human behavior, including the concept of general behavior. A mid-assessment was conducted after the completion of the fourth session.
The fifth session addressed choosing better situations and achieving internal control. The sixth session focused on strategies for formulating new behaviors. The seventh session facilitated the development of responsibility and cooperation, emphasizing the necessity of commitment to contracts and taking responsibility for choices. The final session reviewed the previous sessions, concluded the intervention, and included the administration of a post-test.
Session attendance checklists were used to monitor adherence to the intervention. Allocation of participants to the intervention or control group was based on students’ availability and choice.
Intervention code [1] 329620 0
Behaviour
Intervention code [2] 329622 0
Treatment: Other
Comparator / control treatment
The participants in the control group were not receive any intervention (Reality therapy-based intervention).
Control group
Active

Outcomes
Primary outcome [1] 339487 0
Academic Procrastination
Timepoint [1] 339487 0
Timepoint: Baseline, 4-week intervention period and post intervention.
Follow-up data collection one month after the intervention ends.
Secondary outcome [1] 440183 0
Academic Self efficacy
Timepoint [1] 440183 0
Timepoint: Baseline, 4-week intervention period and post intervention.
Follow-up data collection one month after the intervention ends.
Secondary outcome [2] 440184 0
Self-Esteem
Timepoint [2] 440184 0
Timepoint: Baseline, 4-week intervention period and post intervention.
Follow-up data collection one month after the intervention ends.

Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
Male & female
Undergraduate students
Unmarried
Greater than cut-off score on Academic Procrastination Scale.
Minimum age
19 Years
Maximum age
28 Years
Sex
Both males and females
Can healthy volunteers participate?
No
Key exclusion criteria
Transgender/Otherwise
Post-Graduate
Married/Divorced
Lower than cut-off score on Academic Procrastination Scale.
Substance Abuse

Study design
Purpose of the study
Educational / counselling / training
Allocation to intervention
Non-randomised trial
Procedure for enrolling a subject and allocating the treatment (allocation concealment procedures)
Methods used to generate the sequence in which subjects will be randomised (sequence generation)
Masking / blinding
Open (masking not used)
Who is / are masked / blinded?



Intervention assignment
Other design features
Phase
Not Applicable
Type of endpoint/s
Statistical methods / analysis
The data collected was analysed using SPSS version 25. The analysis was including descriptive statistics independent sample t-test and pair t-test.

Recruitment
Recruitment status
Completed
Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
Actual
3/10/2024
Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
Actual
29/10/2024
Date of last data collection
Anticipated
Actual
2/12/2024
Sample size
Target
40
Accrual to date
Final
40
Recruitment outside Australia
Country [1] 26578 0
Pakistan
State/province [1] 26578 0
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Funding & Sponsors
Funding source category [1] 317500 0
Self funded/Unfunded
Name [1] 317500 0
Country [1] 317500 0
Primary sponsor type
Individual
Name
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rizwan - National University of Medical Sciences
Address
Country
Pakistan
Secondary sponsor category [1] 319797 0
Individual
Name [1] 319797 0
Dr. Shahbaz Ahmed Zakkii
Address [1] 319797 0
Country [1] 319797 0
Pakistan
Secondary sponsor category [2] 319808 0
Individual
Name [2] 319808 0
Ms. Nosheen
Address [2] 319808 0
Country [2] 319808 0
Pakistan

Ethics approval
Ethics application status
Approved
Ethics committee name [1] 316212 0
Research Ethics/Bioethics committee University of Haripur
Ethics committee address [1] 316212 0
Directorate of Advance Studies & Research Board, The University of Haripur, Hattar Road Haripur 22620, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Ethics committee country [1] 316212 0
Pakistan
Date submitted for ethics approval [1] 316212 0
30/09/2024
Approval date [1] 316212 0
30/09/2024
Ethics approval number [1] 316212 0
UOH/DASR/2024/2265

Summary
Brief summary
One of the most common self-regulation failures among students is academic procrastination. Procrastinating behaviour affects academic achievement, health, and overall student well-being. While various interventions have been investigated, there is a need to identify effective strategies that can be practically implemented in educational settings. This research will investigate the effectiveness of a structured program rooted in reality therapy principles on academic procrastination commonly seen in university students. The goal is to enhance students' awareness, comprehension, and coping mechanisms for academic procrastination. The possible outcome of the research is to enhance academic performance and empower students to better manage their academic workload, reduce associated anxiety, and prevent distress. Students learn to make intentional good choices and take steps toward achieving their academic goals.
Trial website
Trial related presentations / publications
Public notes
Step 9: Ethical approval was granted before enrolling any participants. Due to a misplaced original certificate, the ethics committee reissued the certificate on the same day as the reapplication. The reissued certificate reflects the original approval timeline, and no participants were enrolled before ethical approval.

Contacts
Principal investigator
Name 137162 0
Prof Dr. Muhammad Rizwan
Address 137162 0
National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) The Mall, NUMS Secretariat, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan Postal Code: 46000.
Country 137162 0
Pakistan
Phone 137162 0
+923002397125
Fax 137162 0
Email 137162 0
[email protected]
Contact person for public queries
Name 137163 0
Dr. Muhammad Rizwan
Address 137163 0
National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) The Mall, NUMS Secretariat, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan Postal Code: 46000.
Country 137163 0
Pakistan
Phone 137163 0
+923002397125
Fax 137163 0
Email 137163 0
[email protected]
Contact person for scientific queries
Name 137164 0
Dr. Muhammad Rizwan
Address 137164 0
National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) The Mall, NUMS Secretariat, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan Postal Code: 46000.
Country 137164 0
Pakistan
Phone 137164 0
+923002397125
Fax 137164 0
Email 137164 0
[email protected]

Data sharing statement
Will individual participant data (IPD) for this trial be available (including data dictionaries)?
Yes
What data in particular will be shared?
Screening of university students regarding academic Procrastination.
When will data be available (start and end dates)?
Immediately following publication, no end date
Available to whom?
Only researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal.
Available for what types of analyses?
Only to achieve the aims in the approved proposal.
How or where can data be obtained?
Access subject to approvals by Principal Investigator
Name: Dr. Muhammad Rizwan
Email: [email protected]
Contact No: +92-300-2397125


What supporting documents are/will be available?




Results publications and other study-related documents

Documents added manually
No documents have been uploaded by study researchers.

Documents added automatically
No additional documents have been identified.