Europe Needs a Central, Transparent, and Evidence-Based Approval Process for Behavioural Prevention Interventions

Faggiano, Fabrizio; Allara, Elias; Giannotta, Fabrizia; Molinar, Roberta; Sumnall, Harry; Wiers, Reinout W.; Michie, Susan; Conrod, Patricia J.

doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001740

Cited by 37 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(23 reference statements)

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“…Second, our evaluation was conducted in real-life settings. A large part of the literature comprises efficacy studies of programs carried out in controlled research settings (Faggiano et al, 2014 ), and it is unclear to what extent they may be generalizable for practice. Since Diario della Salute was evaluated under real-life (that is, effectiveness) conditions, the generalizability of our findings is maximized.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A School-Based Program to Promote Well-Being in Preadolescents: Results From a Cluster Quasi-Experimental Controlled Study

Allara

Beccaria²,

Molinar

et al. 2018

J Primary Prevent

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Diario della Salute [My Health Diary] is a school-based program designed to enhance the subjective well-being and health of 12- to 13-year-old students. We hypothesized that providing students with the social and emotional skills to fulfill their potential and deal with common developmental tasks of adolescence (e.g., onset of puberty, identity development, increased responsibilities and academic demands) would result in improved well-being and health. The program comprises five standardized interactive lessons concerning common psychosocial and health issues in adolescence, and two narrative booklets addressed to both students and their parents. We evaluated the effectiveness of the program in terms of the students’ subjective well-being, aggressive behavior, and health behavior. Using a quasi-experimental study design, schools in the intervention group implemented the full program and those in the comparison group received their regular curriculum. We administered measures of the study’s objectives both before and after program implementation. Statistical analyses accounted for within-school clustering, potential socioeconomic and demographic confounding, and pre-implementation levels of these measures. We sampled 62 schools and allocated 2630 students to either an intervention or comparison group. Sociodemographic characteristics and baseline outcomes were balanced across study groups. Unexpectedly, respondents in the intervention group had 0.38 greater mean adjusted score of the WHO/Europe Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Symptom Checklist instrument than respondents in the comparison group, indicating a reduction in subjective well-being. We did not observe any program effects on aggressive and health behaviors. The apparent reduction in subjective well-being reflected by an increased perception of psychosomatic complaints is suggestive of either increased emotional competence or, potentially, iatrogenic program effects. While greater emotional competence is positively associated with well-being over the course of life, the program in its present form should not be disseminated due to the possibility of adverse unintended effects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A School-Based Program to Promote Well-Being in Preadolescents: Results From a Cluster Quasi-Experimental Controlled Study

Allara

Beccaria²,

Molinar

et al. 2018

J Primary Prevent

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“…Contrary to common belief, antidrug media campaigns may be damaging and their dissemination is ethically unacceptable without a prior assessment of their effects. 35 36 New campaigns should be implemented in the framework of rigorous evaluation studies, ideally in field settings with cohort or ITS study designs. A better understanding of which media interventions work best is likely to result in a more effective prevention of drug use and increased efficiency in the management of public resources.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are mass-media campaigns effective in preventing drug use? A Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis

et al. 2015

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ObjectiveTo determine whether there is evidence that mass-media campaigns can be effective in reducing illicit drug consumption and the intent to consume.DesignSystematic review of randomised and non-randomised studies.MethodsWe searched four electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I and CENTRAL) and further explored seven additional resources to obtain both published and unpublished materials. We appraised the quality of included studies using standardised tools. We carried out meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials and a pooled analysis of interrupted time-series and controlled before-and-after studies.ResultsWe identified 19 studies comprising 184 811 participants. Pooled analyses and narrative synthesis provided mixed evidence of effectiveness. Eight interventions evaluated with randomised controlled trials leaned towards no evidence of an effect, both on drug use (standardised mean difference (SMD) −0.02; 95% CI −0.15 to 0.12) and the intention to use drugs (SMD −0.07; 95% CI −0.19 to 0.04). Four campaigns provided some evidence of beneficial effects in preventing drug use and two interventions provided evidence of iatrogenic effects.ConclusionsStudies were considerably heterogeneous in type of mass-media intervention, outcome measures, underlying theory, comparison groups and design. Such factors can contribute to explaining the observed variability in results. Owing to the risk of adverse effects, caution is needed in disseminating mass-media campaigns tackling drug use. Large studies conducted with appropriate methodology are warranted to consolidate the evidence base.

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“…However, such measures are only effective if protective behaviours are widely adopted by the population (Hallsworth, 2020;Michie et al, 2020). Moreover, in critical situations such as this pandemic, where rapid behaviour change is necessary, it is crucial that public health policies and interventions be evidence-based, rather than rely on intuition (Faggiano et al, 2014;Wilson & Juarez, 2015). Having a clear picture of people's adoption of protective behaviours, and a thorough understanding of psychosocial correlates in the context of COVID-19, can inform communication strategies and contribute to fighting against the present and future outbreaks (Arden & Chilcot, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Psychological Correlates of Protective Behaviours in the COVID‐19 Outbreak: Evidence and Recommendations from a Nationally Representative Sample

Moussaoui

Ofosu

Desrichard

2020

Applied Psych Health & Well

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Background A clear picture of people’s adoption of protective behaviours, and a thorough understanding of psychosocial correlates in the context of contagious diseases such as COVID‐19, is essential for the development of communication strategies, and can contribute to the fight against epidemics. Methods In this paper, we report a survey on the adoption of the recommended protective behaviours before and during the epidemic. We also assessed demographic correlates, and beliefs (towards COVID‐19 and protective behaviours, towards SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission, social dilemma variables, and perceived external cues) of a representative sample of British residents. Data were collected during the early stage of the COVID‐19 epidemic that spread worldwide in 2020. Results Results showed a marked increase in the adoption of protective behaviour. We also identified targets for intervention in variables related to transmission of the virus and social dilemma‐related beliefs. Sex differences in the adoption of protective measures, as well as differences associated with the frequency of social contacts, were associated with differences in beliefs. Conclusions These findings suggest changeable determinants, which could be targeted in global communication about COVID‐19, or in interventions targeting specific sub‐groups not following the protective measures.

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Europe Needs a Central, Transparent, and Evidence-Based Approval Process for Behavioural Prevention Interventions

Abstract: Fabrizio Faggiano and colleagues discuss how a central, transparent, and evidence-based approval process is needed for behavioral prevention interventions in Europe and propose a way forward. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary

Cited by 37 publications

References 21 publications

A School-Based Program to Promote Well-Being in Preadolescents: Results From a Cluster Quasi-Experimental Controlled Study

A School-Based Program to Promote Well-Being in Preadolescents: Results From a Cluster Quasi-Experimental Controlled Study

Are mass-media campaigns effective in preventing drug use? A Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis

Social Psychological Correlates of Protective Behaviours in the COVID‐19 Outbreak: Evidence and Recommendations from a Nationally Representative Sample

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