Randomized Trial of the Positive Action Program in Hawaii Schools

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Character; Violence; Pro-social Behavior; Substance Use; Academic Achievement
• Interventions: Behavioral: Positive Action

• Registration Number: NCT00328445
• Lead Sponsor: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2001-04
• Study First Submitted: 2006-05-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2006-05-19
• Study First Posted: 2006-05-22
• Primary Completion: 2006-06
• Study Completion: 2006-06
• Status Verified: 2014-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-01-11
• Last Update Posted: 2017-01-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 2500

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

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Treatment	Positive Action	Positive Action

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Parent reports of student behaviors	2001-2006
Self-reported attitudes and behaviors	2001-2006
Teacher reports of behaviors	2001-2006

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
School-level academic achievement test scores	2000-2007
School-level reports of disciplinary referrals	2000-2007
School-level reports of school quality	2000-2007

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

University of Illinois at Chicago; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States

Oregon State University; 🇺🇸 Corvallis, Oregon, United States

Positive Action, Inc.; 🇺🇸 Twin Falls, Idaho, United States