Clinical trials

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate a psychosocial school-based hybrid intervention which includes traditional classroom sessions and online e-learning modules to reduce risk of vaping and prescription drug misuse as part of a broader positive youth development substance use prevention model. Upper elementary schools (N=30) will be randomized to either an intervention group that will receive a hybrid intervention or a treatment-as-usual control group that will receive existing health education programming. At the end of the intervention period, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments, both groups will be compared on changes in behaviors, norms, attitudes, and knowledge regarding vaping and prescription medication use. The main questions the trial aims to answer are: * Does the intervention lower risk of vaping and prescription drug misuse? * Does the intervention increase pro-health norms, attitudes, and knowledge regarding vaping and prescription drug misuse? Participants will: * Attend 1 classroom session per week for 6 weeks (lecture, discussion, small group activities, skills practice). * Complete 1 e-learning module per week for 6 weeks (animated didactic content). * Students attending schools randomized to the control group will attend existing health education programming.

This project is designed to address the urgent need for an effective primary prevention approach to the problem of bullying and cyberbullying among elementary school students. The project involves developing, feasibility testing, and testing for the effectiveness an innovative new approach to the primary prevention of bullying utilizing both a serious (educational) videogame and facilitator-led, interactive class sessions. Using a cluster randomized controlled trial, the intervention will teach students how to respond to in-person and online bullying from the perspectives of perpetrator, victim, and bystander. The intervention enhances personal self-management skills, social skills, refusal skills, and other life skills needed to successfully navigate developmental tasks, increase resilience, and facilitate healthy psychosocial development. At the end of the initial intervention period, and at one- and two-year follow-ups, we will compare outcomes of students in the intervention and control groups with respect to changes in behaviors, norms, attitudes, and knowledge regarding bullying, cyberbullying, and substance use behavior.