Effectiveness of the FearNot!v.2.0 Software in Reducing Bullying Victimisation Among Primary School Children

Bullying Victimisation Clinical Trial

Official title:

Using a Virtual Learning Environment to Reduce Bullying: Evaluation of the FearNot!v.2.0 Intervention in Primary Schools in England and Germany

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00597337
• Other study ID #: WAR-IST-4-027656-STP
• Secondary ID: IST-4-027656-STP
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: January 9, 2008
• Last updated: December 17, 2008
• Start date: November 2007
• Est. completion date: May 2008

Study information

• Verified date: October 2008
• Source: University of Warwick
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United Kingdom: Research Ethics CommitteeGermany: Ethics Commission
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual learning treatment in reducing bullying among primary school children in the UK and Germany.

Description:

In this study, a virtual learning environment application called FearNot!v.2.0 will be evaluated as a way to improve the quality of life in schools by altering children's attitudes and behavior towards bullying.

Participants will be assigned to either the intervention or the control group. The intention was to assign randomly, however, only a minority of primary schools have the computer facilities to run the software with all pupils participating. Thus, assignment is based on the school computer compatibility with the FearNot!v.2.0 software for intervention versus control group controlling for social variables. Participants in the intervention group will interact with the software during 30-minute sessions once a week for a total of 3 weeks while participants in the control group will follow the normal curriculum.

The FearNot! narrative comprises a number of emergent episodes, which play out like an improvisational drama. During each of these emergent episodes, the characters will act out their roles resulting in a dramatic movie-like display on the computer's monitor. In between each of these episodes, the child can interact with the victim character. He/she can learn how the character feels, and offer them coping strategy advice as to how to behave in the following episode.

Outcomes will be assessed through student questionnaires at baseline, one week, and four weeks after treatment. In addition, classroom teachers will be asked to complete the Teacher Incidence of Bullying Scale at baseline and 4 weeks after the treatment.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 1129
• Est. completion date: May 2008
• Est. primary completion date: May 2008
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 8 Years to 11 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria for schools:

• Mixed

• Not currently involved in intervention studies specific to countering bullying

• Access to computers that are compatible to run FearNot!v.2.0 (for intervention schools)

Inclusion Criteria for participants:

• Age between 8-11

• Passive parental consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Enrolled in special education schools

Study Design

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

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Bullying
• Bullying Victimisation

Intervention

Behavioral:
• FearNot
Behavioral: Three sessions of FearNot!v.2.0 software interaction over a three-week period (each session lasting approximately 30 minutes)

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United Kingdom	University of Warwick	Coventry

Sponsors (5)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Warwick	European Commission, University of Bamberg, University of Hertfordshire, University of Wuerzburg

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United Kingdom, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Bullying victimisation - Participant Roles Questionnaire		Measured 1 week post-treatment and at 4 week follow-up	No
Secondary	Knowledge about Bullying and Coping Strategies Knowledge Questionnaire		Measured 1-week post-treatment and at 4-week follow-up	No
Secondary	Peer nominations of defenders		Measured 1 week post-treatment and at 4 week follow-up	No
Secondary	Hymel, Rocke & Bonanno Moral Disengagement Questionnaire		Measured 1 week post-treatment and at 4 week follow-up	No
Secondary	Janke and Janke Adjective Word List (adapted)		Measured after each treatment session	No

External Links

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