Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39875878›Full record

Trial reportBMC public health2025

A randomised controlled implementation trial of the feasibility and effectiveness of school staff delivery of a selective substance use and mental health program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lucinda Grummitt, Kirsty Rowlinson, Joanne Cassar, Chloe Conroy, Louise Birrell, Lexine Stapinski, Emma Louise Barrett, Julia Macauley, Maree Teesson, Nicola C Newton and 1 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Lucinda GrummittThe Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Level 6, Jane Foss Russell Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia. lucinda.grummitt@sydney.edu.au.
Kirsty RowlinsonThe Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Level 6, Jane Foss Russell Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Joanne CassarThe Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Level 6, Jane Foss Russell Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Chloe ConroyThe Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Level 6, Jane Foss Russell Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Louise BirrellThe Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Level 6, Jane Foss Russell Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Lexine StapinskiThe Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Level 6, Jane Foss Russell Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Emma Louise BarrettThe Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Level 6, Jane Foss Russell Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Julia MacauleyThe Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Level 6, Jane Foss Russell Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Maree TeessonThe Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Level 6, Jane Foss Russell Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Nicola C Newton *The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Level 6, Jane Foss Russell Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Erin V Kelly *The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Level 6, Jane Foss Russell Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.

Funding

University of Sydney Rewarding research success - COVID Recovery Support funds, Faculty of Medicine and Health
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPreventure is a selective school-based personality-targeted program that has shown long-term benefits in preventing student alcohol use, internalising and externalising problems when delivered by psychologists. In this first Australian randomised controlled trial of school staff implementation of Preventure, we aimed to examine i) acceptability, feasibility, and fidelity and ii) effectiveness of Preventure on student alcohol use, internalising, and externalising symptoms.

methodsA cluster-randomised controlled implementation trial was conducted in Sydney, Australia and was guided by the RE-AIM framework (Glasgow et al. 1999); which measures reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Schools were randomly assigned to either the Preventure intervention or active control (health education as usual). Nominated school staff from intervention schools received training and delivered the program to students with elevated scores on one of four personality types targeted in the program. School staff completed surveys on RE-AIM measures, which were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Students completed surveys at baseline and six months post-intervention; mixed-effects regression examined intervention by time interactions on alcohol use, internalising and externalising problems, at six-month follow-up. The study was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620000790943, registration date 6 August 2020).

results553 students across 8 schools participated in the baseline survey. Of these, 40% had elevated scores on one of the four personality profiles, resulting in 220 students in the current study (102 students in intervention schools, 118 students in control schools; mean age 13.6, 45.7% female). Most RE-AIM domains showed high ratings, with school staff showing good adherence and confidence in delivery. However, teachers reported difficulties with feasibility, particularly a lack of time. Student outcomes: There were significant improvements in depression and conduct problems across both intervention and control across time. There were no significant main or interaction effects of the intervention on student alcohol use, internalising, or externalising problems. DISCUSSION: Teachers and students rated the program highly. However, concerns around feasibility may limit teacher-led application of the program in the Australian context. Alternative approaches, such as delivery by dedicated personnel within schools without a teaching load, may be critical in implementing such evidence-based interventions at scale.

trial registrationThe study was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, registration number: ACTRN12620000790943, registration date: 6 August 2020.

Indexed as

COVID-19School Health ServicesSubstance-Related DisordersAdolescentAustraliaChildFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMental HealthPandemicsProgram EvaluationSchoolsStudentsAlcohol useImplementationMental healthPersonalityPreventionRandomised controlled trialSchoolSelective

Identifiers

PMID39875878
PMCPMC11773974

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.