Adapting and piloting the ASSIST model of informal peer-led intervention delivery to the Talk to Frank drug prevention programme in UK secondary schools (ASSIST+Frank)

Adapting and piloting the ASSIST model of informal peer-led intervention delivery to the Talk to Frank drug prevention programme in UK secondary schools (ASSIST+Frank): intervention development and a pilot trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN14415936

Enrollment

1632

Registered

2014-11-05

Start date

2014-03-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2019-02-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Illicit drug use Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Interventions

ASSIST is an informal peer-led smoking prevention intervention to diffuse and sustain non-smoking norms via secondary school students? social networks in Year 8 (aged 12-13). ASSIST h

develop communication skills including listening, cooperation and negotiation, and conflict resolution

enhance students? confidence, empathy, assertiveness, attitudes to risk-taking, and exploration of personal values and to role play having informal conversations about smoking with their peers. Traini

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Schools will be eligible for inclusion if they are among the state secondary schools identified by Welsh Government and Public Health Wales as receiving ASSIST in the 2014-2015 academic year. Students in Year 8 in these schools in 2014-2015 will be eligible participants in baseline and follow-up data collections (baseline conducted in Year 8; 18-month follow-up Year 9)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Students who refuse their consent, or whose parents/carers refuse consent

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The progression criteria on which the decision to proceed to a definitive trial are our primary outcomes. These are: Acceptability and feasibility of the interventions to school and intervention delivery staff 1. Was it feasible to implement the ASSIST+Frank intervention in (at least) two out of three intervention schools? This will be assessed according to whether: a) 75%+ of year 8 ASSIST peer supporters are recruited and re-trained as ASSIST+Frank peer supporters in year 9; b) 75%+ of year 9 students nominated are recruited and trained as Frank friends peer supporters and, c) PHW staff delivered the additional ASSIST+Frank training in full in all three intervention schools. This will be assessed via interviews and focus groups with peer supporters and PHW staff, as well as observations of peer supporter training. 2. Was it feasible to implement the Frank friends intervention in (at least) two out of three intervention schools? This will be assessed according to whether: a) PHW staff delivered the Frank friends training in full in all three schools. This will be assessed via interviews and focus groups with peer supporters and PHW staff, as well as observations of peer supporter training. Acceptability of the intervention to peer supporters and fidelity 3. Was the intervention acceptable to students trained as ASSIST+Frank peer supporters? This will be assessed according to whether: a) 75%+ of ASSIST+Frank peer supporters report having at least one or more informal conversations with their peers at school about drug-related risks/harms; and b) 75%+ of ASSIST+Frank peer supporters report at least one contact with PHW staff, either via a follow-up visit and/or contact via email, text or Facebook. This will be assessed via interviews and focus groups with peer supporters and PHW staff, and analysis of documentary evidence (e.g. PHW log of attendance at follow-ups, etc.).	—

Measure

Time frame

The progression criteria on which the decision to proceed to a definitive trial are our primary outcomes. These are: Acceptability and feasibility of the interventions to school and intervention delivery staff 1. Was it feasible to implement the ASSIST+Frank intervention in (at least) two out of three intervention schools? This will be assessed according to whether: a) 75%+ of year 8 ASSIST peer supporters are recruited and re-trained as ASSIST+Frank peer supporters in year 9; b) 75%+ of year 9 students nominated are recruited and trained as Frank friends peer supporters and, c) PHW staff delivered the additional ASSIST+Frank training in full in all three intervention schools. This will be assessed via interviews and focus groups with peer supporters and PHW staff, as well as observations of peer supporter training. 2. Was it feasible to implement the Frank friends intervention in (at least) two out of three intervention schools? This will be assessed according to whether: a) PHW staff delivered the Frank friends training in full in all three schools. This will be assessed via interviews and focus groups with peer supporters and PHW staff, as well as observations of peer supporter training. Acceptability of the intervention to peer supporters and fidelity 3. Was the intervention acceptable to students trained as ASSIST+Frank peer supporters? This will be assessed according to whether: a) 75%+ of ASSIST+Frank peer supporters report having at least one or more informal conversations with their peers at school about drug-related risks/harms; and b) 75%+ of ASSIST+Frank peer supporters report at least one contact with PHW staff, either via a follow-up visit and/or contact via email, text or Facebook. This will be assessed via interviews and focus groups with peer supporters and PHW staff, and analysis of documentary evidence (e.g. PHW log of attendance at follow-ups, etc.).

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Incidence of any illicit drug use assessed by self-report questionnaire 18 months after randomisation. Use of cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, crack, ecstasy, aerosols, gas, glue, solvents, poppers, nitrus oxide, sedatives or sleeping pills, LSD, magic mushrooms, ketamine, steroids, methadrone, other prescription drugs, and opioids. Questions will assess use: ever (lifetime prevalence), over the past 12 months, past 30 days and past week; Age of first experimentation with any drug; Cannabis use: age of first use; frequency of use; symptoms after use (e.g. anxiety, relaxation, paranoia); method of use (by itself, mixed with tobacco); cannabis dependence: Cannabis Abuse Screen Test (CAST); Tobacco use: lifetime use; current use; use in past 12 months, past 30 days and past week; frequency of use; (taken from ASSIST trial and Health Survey for England); Heaviness of Smoking Index; Fagerstrom test of nicotine dependence.	—

Measure

Time frame

Incidence of any illicit drug use assessed by self-report questionnaire 18 months after randomisation. Use of cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, crack, ecstasy, aerosols, gas, glue, solvents, poppers, nitrus oxide, sedatives or sleeping pills, LSD, magic mushrooms, ketamine, steroids, methadrone, other prescription drugs, and opioids. Questions will assess use: ever (lifetime prevalence), over the past 12 months, past 30 days and past week; Age of first experimentation with any drug; Cannabis use: age of first use; frequency of use; symptoms after use (e.g. anxiety, relaxation, paranoia); method of use (by itself, mixed with tobacco); cannabis dependence: Cannabis Abuse Screen Test (CAST); Tobacco use: lifetime use; current use; use in past 12 months, past 30 days and past week; frequency of use; (taken from ASSIST trial and Health Survey for England); Heaviness of Smoking Index; Fagerstrom test of nicotine dependence.

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Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 26, 2026