TY - JOUR
T1 - A randomized, controlled trial of a school-based intervention to reduce violence and substance use in predominantly Latino high school students
AU - Shetgiri, Rashmi
AU - Kataoka, Sheryl
AU - Lin, Hua
AU - Flores, Glenn
PY - 2011/1/1
Y1 - 2011/1/1
N2 - Purpose: Few studies have rigorously evaluated school-based interventions to reduce violence and substance use in high school students, especially Latinos. This study assessed the effects of a school-based program on reducing violence and substance use among primarily Latino high school students. Methods: Ninth-grade students at risk for violence and substance use were randomized to intervention or control groups. The intervention was based on an existing program developed for white and African American youth. Data on smoking, alcohol and drug use, fighting, and grades were collected at baseline and 4 and 8 months post enrollment. Results: There were 55 students in the control and 53 in the intervention group; 74% of controls and 78% of intervention students were Latino. There were no significant changes in fighting, smoking, or alcohol or drug use, from baseline to 8-month follow-up, between the intervention and control group. Pre and post grade point average (GPA) decreased from 2.3 at baseline to 1.8 at follow-up (p < .01) in the intervention group, with no significant between-group changes in GPA from baseline to follow-up. Conclusions: This school-based program showed no reduction in violence or substance use. The findings suggest that a program targeting non-Latino youth may not be optimal for reducing violence and substance use in Latinos; greater attention to cultural appropriateness and racial/ethnic differences may be needed. There was a decrease in interventiongroup GPA but no significant change compared with controls. Further studies of the impact of school-based substance use and violence prevention programs on academics, and the effectiveness of afterschool or community-based programs compared to school-based programs are needed.
AB - Purpose: Few studies have rigorously evaluated school-based interventions to reduce violence and substance use in high school students, especially Latinos. This study assessed the effects of a school-based program on reducing violence and substance use among primarily Latino high school students. Methods: Ninth-grade students at risk for violence and substance use were randomized to intervention or control groups. The intervention was based on an existing program developed for white and African American youth. Data on smoking, alcohol and drug use, fighting, and grades were collected at baseline and 4 and 8 months post enrollment. Results: There were 55 students in the control and 53 in the intervention group; 74% of controls and 78% of intervention students were Latino. There were no significant changes in fighting, smoking, or alcohol or drug use, from baseline to 8-month follow-up, between the intervention and control group. Pre and post grade point average (GPA) decreased from 2.3 at baseline to 1.8 at follow-up (p < .01) in the intervention group, with no significant between-group changes in GPA from baseline to follow-up. Conclusions: This school-based program showed no reduction in violence or substance use. The findings suggest that a program targeting non-Latino youth may not be optimal for reducing violence and substance use in Latinos; greater attention to cultural appropriateness and racial/ethnic differences may be needed. There was a decrease in interventiongroup GPA but no significant change compared with controls. Further studies of the impact of school-based substance use and violence prevention programs on academics, and the effectiveness of afterschool or community-based programs compared to school-based programs are needed.
KW - Children/adolescents
KW - Latinos
KW - Randomized controlled trial
KW - Risk behaviors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84858815335&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84858815335&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0027-9684(15)30450-8
DO - 10.1016/S0027-9684(15)30450-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 22364063
AN - SCOPUS:84858815335
SN - 0027-9684
VL - 103
SP - 932
EP - 940
JO - Journal of the National Medical Association
JF - Journal of the National Medical Association
IS - 9-10
ER -