Topic 2 Examples of Preventive Interventions

Universal Prevention

Education as a part of the school curriculum
School based policies on tobacco, alcohol and internet use
Classroom centred intervention targeting teachers’ behaviour management and academic instructional skills
Family school partnerships intervention

Education as a Part of School Curriculum

The education on the negative consequences of:
- Smoking
- Responsible drinking behavior
- Adequate internet use

These preventive activities have shown to be:
- Effective
- Inexpensive
- Can be an integral part of education from the kindergarten up until the end of secondary education.

The teachers who include the education on risk behaviors in their curricula go through the education on prevention and on the risk and protective factors
Provision of information is not sufficient
The main flaws of these interventions can be overcome by:
- including the children in the discussion process
- allowing them to ask for the information they consider necessary.

School-Based Policies on Tobacco, Alcohol and Internet Use

Aim to decrease the children’s/ adolescents’ access to tobacco, alcohol, or internet at school and also ban its use on the school property or any event organized or sponsored by the school.
Reduce the exposure
Are not based on behavioural change

Classroom Centered Intervention Targeting Teachers’ Behavior Management and Academic Instructional Skills

This intervention was examined as a part of a randomised controlled trial among the sample of first graders, with the follow-up until 18 years of age.
Pros: the increase in the time till being offered the first cigarette
No effect once the cigarette has been offered, and as much as 75% of children who were offered a cigarette reported smoking

Family-School Partnerships Intervention

Part of a randomised controlled trial
Focused on improving parent-teacher interaction and support
The major component was seven workshops offered to all parents. The workshops were focused on parenting practices
Pro: delayed age when offered the first cigarette

Selective Prevention

Mentoring

Improves youth’s positive development
Improves children’s/adolescents’ relationship with peers (of high importance for the children with already identified risk factors)
For it to be effective :
- Mentors need to be clearly instructed on the process of prevention
- Mentors need to be clearly instructed on the frequency of contacts
- There should be organized activities for mentors and children/ adolescents

School-Based Programs

Usually consist of the group programs, conducted in weekly sessions.
Number of sessions vary but is commonly around 10
These sessions target the knowledge development, coping skills and development of social behaviour
The studies examining the effects of school-based selective intervention programs showed mixed results

School-Based Programs- Drawbacks and Pros

Often more intrusive to the privacy of children/ adolescents
Sometimes they can lead to the discussions with parents
Require a higher number of highly educated professionals, able to deal with the multiple issues which may arise.
Commonly more expensive than universal preventive programs.
The most challenging aspect of the selective prevention program is to correctly identify the high-risk group!
However, the positive effects are often larger, since the programs include those at risk and are more intensive and longer!

School-Based Programs- Risk Group

Children/ adolescents whose parents are smokers/ alcohol abusers, misusers or drug abusers
Children of parents with mental illnesses
Children of parents with criminal background
Children and families living in poverty
Abused children
Immigrant children

Indicated Prevention