Randomized Trial of the Positive Action Program in Hawaii Schools

NCT ID: NCT00328445

Last Updated: 2017-01-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 2500 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2001-04-30
• Study Completion Date: 2006-06-30

Brief 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.

Detailed 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.

Conditions

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

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Control

Business as usual

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Treatment

Positive Action

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Positive Action

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

See publications

Interventions

Positive Action

See publications

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Public elementary schools K-5 or K-6
• All students in the study cohorts

Exclusion Criteria

• Schools performing in top 50%

• Minimum Eligible Age: 6 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

NIH

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Brian R Flay, D.Phil.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Oregon State University

Locations

Positive Action, Inc.

Twin Falls, Idaho, United States

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Oregon State University

Corvallis, Oregon, United States

Countries

United States

References

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. Epub 2008 Sep 9.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 18780182 (View on PubMed)

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 Public Health. 2009 Aug;99(8):1438-45. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.142919. Epub 2009 Jun 18.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 19542037 (View on PubMed)

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 randomized, controlled trial. J Res Educ Eff. 2010 Jan;3(1):26-55. doi: 10.1080/19345740903353436.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 20414477 (View on PubMed)

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(1):11-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00662.x.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 22142170 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

http://www.positiveaction.net

Link to information about the Positive Action program

Other Identifiers

R01DA013474

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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