Citation

Jacobs P, Estrada YA, Tapia MI, Terán AM, Tamayo CC, García MA, Triviño GM, Pantin H, Velazquez MR, Horigian VE, Alonso E, Prado G. Contemp. Clin. Trials 2016; 47: 244-253.

Affiliation

Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136, United States. Electronic address: GPrado@med.miami.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.cct.2016.01.014

PMID

26850901

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Developing, testing and implementing evidence-based prevention interventions are important in decreasing substance use and risky sexual behavior among adolescents. This process requires research expertise, infrastructure, resources and decades of research testing, which might not always be feasible for low resource countries. Adapting and testing interventions proven to be efficacious in similar cultures might circumvent the time and costs of implementing evidence-based interventions in new settings. This paper describes the two-phase study, including training and development of the research infrastructure in the Ecuadorian university necessary to implement a randomized controlled trial.

METHODS/DESIGN: Familias Unidas is a multilevel parent-centered intervention designed in the U.S. to prevent drug use and sexual risk behaviors in Hispanic adolescents. The current study consisted of Phase 1 feasibility study (n=38) which adapted the intervention and study procedures within a single-site school setting in an area with a high prevalence of drug use and unprotected sexual behavior among adolescents in Ecuador, and Phase 2 randomized controlled trial of the adapted intervention in two public high schools with a target population of families with adolescents from 12 to 14years old.

DISCUSSION: The trial is currently in Phase 2. Study recruitment was completed with 239 parent-youth dyads enrolling. The intervention phase and the first follow-up assessment have been completed. The second and third follow-up assessments will be completed in 2016. This project has the potential of benefitting a large population of families in areas of Ecuador that are disproportionally affected by drug trafficking and its consequences. TRIAL REGISTRATION: MSP-DIS-2015-0055-0, Ministry of Public Health (MSP), Quito, Ecuador.

Language: en