Evaluation of a Digital School-Based Intervention for the Primary Prevention of Eating Disorders in Pre-Adolescents (PRETA Program)

NCT ID: NCT06792981

Last Updated: 2025-09-19

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

1068 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-03-10

Study Completion Date

2025-12-31

Brief Summary

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Background:

Eating Disorders (ED) are mental health conditions, characterized by pathological behaviors toward food intake or a persistent obsession with weight control. EDs have a high prevalence among pre-adolescents in developed countries and pose a significant economic burden. Preventive interventions targeting at-risk populations for ED have proven effective. The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) facilitates access to larger population groups while also reducing costs.

Objectives:

* Develop and validate a universally applied intervention (PRETA), mediated by ICTs, to reduce eating-disorder risk and modifiable risk factors, through cultural adaptation and adjustment of the POtsdam Prevention at Schools (POPS) Program to preadolescents.
* Assess the efficacy of the PRETA Program through a randomized controlled trial (RCT).
* Evaluate the efficiency of the PRETA Program from a social perspective. Methodology The PRETA Program uses 9 online sessions with interactive activities for pre- adolescents, plus education for their families and teachers.

Its content includes addressing key factors in the development of ED, such as eating habits, beauty standards, and media literacy, as well as activities aimed at strengthening psychological dimensions (self-esteem, emotional regulation, problem-solving, psychological flexibility, and resilience) and social skills, including communication styles and distinguishing between jokes and bullying.

The study involves schools being randomly assigned to either the PRETA Program or regular health activities. The effect of the intervention will be evaluated 3 months after its start.

Detailed Description

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A matched-pair cluster random allocation will be used, with schools being asigned as clusters. Six schools will be assigned to each group.

Conditions

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Eating Disorders in Adolescence Food Addiction

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Data analysis

Study Groups

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Intervention Group

Participants in the intervention group will complete a baseline assessment and receive project information. Then, students from the schools randomly allocated to the intervention group will participate in the PRETA program, specifically designed for the primary prevention of Eating Disorders (ED) in a school setting. These sessions will involve educational activities and participatory dynamics to foster a healthy relationship with body image and eating. At the end of the program, participants will complete questionnaires to assess the outcomes.

Additionally, parents and teachers in the intervention group will receive targeted training and resources.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Universal primary prevention program based on ICTs

Intervention Type OTHER

The intervention adopts a multicomponent approach, addressing three agents in the prevention and management of eating disorders: parents, teachers and students.

1. Intervention with parents:

Parents will receive specific materials, including an informative guide on early identification of warning signs, promoting healthy lifestyle habits, and fostering effective communication with their children.
2. Intervention with teachers:

A two-hour in-person session will train teachers on platform use and provide tools for eating disorder prevention through role-playing techniques. Online resources will complement the training, while researchers ensure adherence via weekly follow-ups and parent reminders.
3. e-Preta program: The intervention for minors is delivered through an online platform, structured into 9 sessions of 45 minutes each, over 3 months. Weekly, platform-guided activities are proposed for classroom use with minimal teacher interaction, along with voluntary at-home activities.

Control Group

The students randomly allocated to control condition will not receive any type of intervention. They will continue with their regular school activities but will complete the questionnaires and surveys to contrast the effects of the intervention.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Universal primary prevention program based on ICTs

The intervention adopts a multicomponent approach, addressing three agents in the prevention and management of eating disorders: parents, teachers and students.

1. Intervention with parents:

Parents will receive specific materials, including an informative guide on early identification of warning signs, promoting healthy lifestyle habits, and fostering effective communication with their children.
2. Intervention with teachers:

A two-hour in-person session will train teachers on platform use and provide tools for eating disorder prevention through role-playing techniques. Online resources will complement the training, while researchers ensure adherence via weekly follow-ups and parent reminders.
3. e-Preta program: The intervention for minors is delivered through an online platform, structured into 9 sessions of 45 minutes each, over 3 months. Weekly, platform-guided activities are proposed for classroom use with minimal teacher interaction, along with voluntary at-home activities.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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PRETA Program

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Enrolled in the fifth or sixth year of primary education.
* Informed consent provided by the student's legal guardians and responsible teacher to participate.

Exclusion Criteria

* Significant comprehension difficulties that limit adequate participation in the program and questionnaires.
Minimum Eligible Age

10 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

13 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of La Laguna

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Fundacion Canaria Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria de Canarias

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Servicio Canario de Salud

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Yolanda Ramallo Fariña

Coordinator of the Research Methodology and Data Analysis Group

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Yolanda Ramallo-Fariña, PhD in Biomedical Sciences

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Servicio de Evaluación del Servicio Canario de la Salud

Locations

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Servicio de Evaluación y Planificación del Servicio Canario de Salud

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Spain

Central Contacts

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Yolanda Ramallo-Fariña, PhD in Biomedical Sciences

Role: CONTACT

+34922478266

Facility Contacts

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Yolanda Ramallo-Fariña, PhD

Role: primary

+34 922 478266

References

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Ramallo-Farina Y, Del Pino-Sedeno T, Pinto Robayna B, Capafons-Sosa JI, Cuesta-Rubio M, Garcia-Bello MA, Torres-Castano A, Vallejo Torres L, Benitez Brito N, Martin Corral J, Hernandez Rodriguez AI, Diaz Melian CD, Paz Lopez M, Gonzalez-Gonzalez CS. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an online school-based programme to reduce eating disorder risk factors in preadolescents (PRETA): protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2025 Oct 14;15(10):e104014. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-104014.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 41087111 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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PIFIISC21/06

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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