Clinical trial NCT00328445: Randomized Trial of the Positive Action Program in Hawaii Schools
Official title: The Positive Action Program: Outcomes and Mediators
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Character
Violence
Substance Use
Pro-social Behavior
Academic Achievement
Keywords: Curriculum
Classroom management
School-wide climate
Parent involvement
Lead sponsor: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Sponsor class: NIH
First posted: 2006-05-22
Enrollment: 2500
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 6
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

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.

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%

Primary outcomes:
measure: Self-reported attitudes and behaviors
timeFrame: 2001-2006
measure: Teacher reports of behaviors
timeFrame: 2001-2006
measure: Parent reports of student behaviors
timeFrame: 2001-2006
Secondary outcomes:
measure: School-level academic achievement test scores
timeFrame: 2000-2007
measure: School-level reports of disciplinary referrals
timeFrame: 2000-2007
measure: School-level reports of school quality
timeFrame: 2000-2007
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Twin Falls
country: United States
facility: Positive Action, Inc.
state: Idaho
city: Chicago
country: United States
facility: University of Illinois at Chicago
state: Illinois
city: Corvallis
country: United States
facility: Oregon State University
state: Oregon
Study officials:
affiliation: Oregon State University
name: Brian R Flay, D.Phil.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: 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.
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 Public Health. 2009 Aug;99(8):1438-45. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.142919. Epub 2009 Jun 18.
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 randomized, controlled trial. J Res Educ Eff. 2010 Jan;3(1):26-55. doi: 10.1080/19345740903353436.
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(1):11-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00662.x.