Randomized Trial of the Effects of Musical Training on Child Development in the Venezuela Orchestra Program (El Sistema)

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Child Development
• Interventions: Behavioral: Treatment (Invited entry 2012); Behavioral: Control (Invited entry 2013)

• Registration Number: NCT02369315
• Lead Sponsor: Inter-American Development Bank

Brief Summary

This study evaluates Venezuela's National System of Child and Youth Orchestras, better known as "El Sistema".

Detailed Description

The randomized control trial was conducted in 16 music centers in Venezuela between May 2012 and November 2013, with a population of 6-14 year olds seeking entry to the program. During an application period (May-July 2012), 2,603 guardians (the experimental cluster) applied on behalf of 2,999 6-14 year olds. Approximately half of the guardians were randomly offered early admission in September 2012, with the rest offered admission in September 2013. Baseline and follow-up data were collected on outcomes which will be explored for full-group and specific sub-groups (children with less educated mothers, and boys or girls exposed to violence).

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-02
• Study First Submitted: 2015-02-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-02-16
• Study First Posted: 2015-02-23
• Status Verified: 2016-12
• Primary Completion: 2016-12
• Study Completion: 2016-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-12-06
• Last Update Posted: 2016-12-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 2914

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Treatment (Invited entry 2012)	Treatment (Invited entry 2012)	Children offered entry to music program in September 2012
Control (Invited entry 2013)	Control (Invited entry 2013)	Children offered entry to music program delayed until September 2013

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Child Prosocial Skills and Connections	1 year	child self-esteem (Rosenberg scale), empathy (Bryant scale), and school and family engagement (BERS-2 subscales)
Child Behaviors	1 year (baseline 2012-followup 2013)	prosocial behavior (SDQ Strengths subscale), difficulties (SDQ Difficulties subscale), risk-taking (risky driving game), and aggression (aggressive behavior and propensity scales)
Child self-regulatory skills	1 year (baseline 2012 to followup 2013)	self-reported 10 item self-control scale; response inhibition (Go/no-go), attention functioning (Flanker), and planning skills (Tower of London)
Child Cognitive Skills	1 year (baseline 2012-followup 2013)	working memory (digit recall), processing speed (symbol search), and visual-spatial reasoning (Raven)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Guardian Collective Efficacy	1 year (baseline 2012-followup 2013)	collective efficacy scale of Sampson et. al. 1997