Effects of Prevention in School (PS): a Swedish School-wide Positive Behavior Support Program at the Primary Prevention Level

Overview

Prevention in School (PS) is a modified School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Program at the universal prevention level, developed by Swedish researchers for the school years 4 -9. By defining and teaching school rules to all teachers and students, and by consistently acknowledging students when meeting behavioural expectations, the program aims to reduce problem behaviours in school areas and to improve the classroom learning climate. Against this background, the purpose of this study is to examine whether PS is more effective than schools' ordinary practices in meeting these goals.

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Prevention
    • Masking: None (Open Label)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: May 2012

Interventions

  • Behavioral: PS – Prevention in School

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Experimental: PS – Prevention in School
    • Teachers learn to use the core program components (defining and teaching school rules and the handling of rule breakings, principles of positive behavior support)with help from external consultants during approximately 1.5 years.
  • No Intervention: Business as usual

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Student problem behaviors
    • Time Frame: 24 months
    • Teacher-reported problem behaviors in school areas during last week Teacher-reported problem behaviors in classrooms during last week Student-reported problem behaviors in school areas during the school-year Student-reported problem behaviors in classrooms during the school-year

Secondary Measures

  • Classroom learning climate
    • Time Frame: 24 months
    • Teacher self-reports; Teacher Classroom Climate Scale Student self-reports; Student Classroom Climate Scale

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Schools situated in Stockholm county and in bordering counties within travelling distance from Stockholm. – Comprising the grades 4-9 (10-15 years). – A minimum of 2 classes/50 students in each of the grades 5-7. – A majority (min.80%)of the staff is positive towards program participation. – School management willing to take active part in change/developmental work. – A willingness to submit to study conditions (randomization etc) Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participation in other ongoing research projects.

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 10 Years

Maximum Age: 15 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Karolinska Institutet
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: Maria Bodin, Principal Investigator – Karolinska Institutet
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Maria Bodin, Principal Investigator, STAD, Stockholm Centre for Psychiatric Research and Education, Karolinska Institutet

References

Horner RH, Todd AW, Lewis-Palmer T, Irvin LK, Sugai G, & Boland JB. The school-wide evaluation tool (SET): A research instrument for assessing school-wide positive behaviour support. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 6, 3-12, 2004.

Sundell K, Koutakis N, Hellqvist A, Andrén J, Karlberg M, Forster M & Hassler-Hallstedt M. Prevention i skolan. Forskningsbaserat preventionsprogram för grundskolans år 4-9. FoU-rapport 2007:6. Stockholms stadsledningskontor: FoU-enheten, 2007.

Sørlie M-A, Ogden T. Immediate impacts of PALS: A school wide multi-level programme targeting behaviour problems in elementary school. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 5: 471-492, 2007.

Sørlie M-A, Nordahl, T. Problematferd i skolen: Hovedfunn, forklaringer og pedagogiske implikasjoner. [Behaviour problems in school: Main findings, explanations, and pedagogical implications].Hovedrapport fra forskningsprosjektet Skole- och samspillsvansker (Rapport 12a/98). Oslo: Norsk Institutt for forsknings om oppvekst, velferd og aldring, 1998.

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