A Hybrid Program to Prevent Substance Use Risk Among Upper Elementary School Students Using a Positive Youth Development Approach
Christopher Williams
Summary
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate a psychosocial school-based hybrid intervention which includes traditional classroom sessions and online e-learning modules to reduce risk of vaping and prescription drug misuse as part of a broader positive youth development substance use prevention model. Upper elementary schools (N=30) will be randomized to either an intervention group that will receive a hybrid intervention or a treatment-as-usual control group that will receive existing health education programming. At the end of the intervention period, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments, both groups will be compared on changes in behaviors, norms, attitudes, and knowledge regarding vaping and prescription medication use. The main questions the trial aims to answer are: * Does the intervention lower risk of vaping and prescription drug misuse? * Does the intervention increase pro-health norms, attitudes, and knowledge regarding vaping and prescription drug misuse? Participants will: * Attend 1 classroom session per week for 6 weeks (lecture, discussion, small group activities, skills practice). * Complete 1 e-learning module per week for 6 weeks (animated didactic content). * Students attending schools randomized to the control group will attend existing health education programming.
Description
This SBIR Fast-Track proposal is designed to address the urgent problems of vaping and prescription drug misuse (PDM) among youth in the U.S. There is a dearth of primary prevention programs for vaping and PDM that have demonstrated changes in behavior as part of a rigorously designed evaluation. Research shows that the age of onset for these behaviors is decreasing and rates are increasing among the youngest cohorts. While there are a number of substance use prevention programs, there are no evidence-based programs that focus on these problems among upper elementary school students from a pos…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 7–11 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: Students will be eligible for participation if they attend a school enrolled in the trial and they are between ages 7-11. Exclusion Criteria: All students will be eligible to participate in intervention implmentation, but survey responses will be excluded from the formal analysis with documentation of significant cognitive impairment as determined by school officials.
Interventions
- BehavioralSchool-based Hybrid Intervention to Prevent Vaping and Prescription Drug Misuse
Psychosocial school-based hybrid intervention which includes traditional classroom sessions and online e-learning modules to reduce risk of vaping and prescription drug misuse among upper elementary school students.
Location
- National Health Promotion AssociatesWhite Plains, New York