Randomized Trial of the Positive Action Program in Hawaii Schools

Substance Use Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Positive Action Program: Outcomes and Mediators

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00328445
• Other study ID #: R01DA013474
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: May 19, 2006
• Last updated: January 11, 2017
• Start date: April 2001
• Est. completion date: June 2006

Study information

• Verified date: September 2014
• Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the Positive Action program on reducing negative behaviors, increasing positive behaviors and improving academic achievement of elementary school students.

Description:

This project will: 1) evaluate the efficacy of a comprehensive, multi-grade, multi-year program, the Positive Action program (PA) designed to reduce student problem behaviors (including drug use and violence), disciplinary referrals and suspensions, and academic underachievement; 2) evaluate the effects of the program on the presumed/theoretical mediator variables; and 3) assess which of these changes in mediator variables actually mediate the effects of the program on behavior and school performance. The Hawaiian school district has agreed to implement a randomized trial of the PA program. We randomly assigned schools to PA or control conditions from strata matched on multiple indicators of risk. PA schools will receive the full PA program for four years (the 2002-03 through 2005-06 school years). This includes all materials for all students (at all grades), families, teachers, and principal, plus community kits; training for teachers and other interested staff; and continuous technical support and monitoring by a PA staff person. Data on behavior and academic achievement will be obtained from school archival records for all students for all years and, where appropriate for several years prior to the study. Students in grades 1 and 3 in the 2001-02 school year and their parents and teachers will also be followed through the project with surveys every year. The subject population will contain equal portions of males and females, and proportionate numbers of the major ethnic groups on Oahu (Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian, white, Asian, Other). Analyses will test for program effects on all hypothesized mediating variables and outcomes, and the hypothesized mediational pathways.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 2500
• Est. completion date: June 2006
• Est. primary completion date: June 2006
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 6 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Public elementary schools K-5 or K-6

• All students in the study cohorts

Exclusion Criteria:

• Schools performing in top 50%

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Prevention

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Academic Achievement
• Character
• Pro-social Behavior
• Substance Use
• Violence

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Positive Action
See publications

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Illinois at Chicago	Chicago	Illinois
United States	Oregon State University	Corvallis	Oregon
United States	Positive Action, Inc.	Twin Falls	Idaho

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (4)

Beets MW, Flay BR, Vuchinich S, Acock AC, Li KK, Allred C. School climate and teachers' beliefs and attitudes associated with implementation of the positive action program: a diffusion of innovations model. Prev Sci. 2008 Dec;9(4):264-75. doi: 10.1007/s11121-008-0100-2. — View Citation

Beets MW, Flay BR, Vuchinich S, Snyder FJ, Acock A, Li KK, Burns K, Washburn IJ, Durlak J. Use of a social and character development program to prevent substance use, violent behaviors, and sexual activity among elementary-school students in Hawaii. Am J — View Citation

Snyder F, Flay B, Vuchinich S, Acock A, Washburn I, Beets M, Li KK. Impact of a social-emotional and character development program on school-level indicators of academic achievement, absenteeism, and disciplinary outcomes: A matched-pair, cluster randomiz — View Citation

Snyder FJ, Vuchinich S, Acock A, Washburn IJ, Flay BR. Improving elementary school quality through the use of a social-emotional and character development program: a matched-pair, cluster-randomized, controlled trial in Hawai'i. J Sch Health. 2012 Jan;82( — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Self-reported attitudes and behaviors		2001-2006	No
Primary	Teacher reports of behaviors		2001-2006	No
Primary	Parent reports of student behaviors		2001-2006	No
Secondary	School-level academic achievement test scores		2000-2007	No
Secondary	School-level reports of disciplinary referrals		2000-2007	No
Secondary	School-level reports of school quality		2000-2007	No

External Links

•   Link to information about the Positive Action program