Sexual Assault Precursor Behavior
Conditions
Brief summary
The goal is to evaluate at three sites the implementation of the Safer Bars sexual assault prevention program.
Detailed description
Sexual violence perpetration is robustly associated with social contexts that support high levels of alcohol consumption. Beginning in 2007, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) developed and field-tested the Safer Bars curriculum with support from the CDC Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) funding program. Safer Bars is a bystander prevention training for staff of alcohol serving establishments. This application proposes a theory-driven, quasi-experimental effectiveness evaluation based at The University of Arizona. Our approach is significant because few evaluations have measured behavioral outcomes as well as the mediators that explain the observed changes in bystander behavior, or community-level outcomes associated with such interventions. Specific Aims: the specific aims are to: (1) Test a hypothesized mediational model of individual-level behavioral outcomes based on the Theory of Planned Behavior; (2) assess the effect of the program on bar-level risk management safety policies; and (3) examine the community-level impact of the Safer Bars program on reducing the number of police dispatches in areas with high densities of alcohol-serving establishments. Methods: A cluster-randomized trial design with crossover to randomize participants at the bar level into intervention and delayed intervention arms is proposed. Assessments are at baseline, completion of training, and at three and six months post-training. The sample bars will be selected within a three-mile radius of the three major Arizona universities, all of which have a high density of alcohol-serving establishments adjacent to campus. Our analytical model will assess a hypothesized moderated mediational model based in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Outcomes of interest include: (a) the extent to which Behavioral Intent, the central construct of TPB, mediates bar staff performance of intended bystander behaviors at three-month follow-up and the extent to which this relationship is moderated by personal characteristics and bar environment; (b) the effects of the program on bar-level risk management patron safety policies; and, (c) the community-level effects as demonstrated by number of police dispatches in areas with a high density of alcohol-serving establishments at baseline and at the end of the project using GIS data. With evidence of efficacy, Safer Bars is feasible for scale-up without excessive financial burden in other states, which all receive RPE funding.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSafer Bars
Safer Bars, a primary perpetration prevention program based on a bystander intervention model and the theory of planned behavior. Bar staff are trained to recognize and respond to sexual aggression and its precursors among patrons.
Sponsors
Arizona State University
Arizona Department of Health Services
Mary Koss
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Masking description
Participants use code numbers to submit their data.
Intervention model description
A cluster-randomized trial design with crossover to randomize participants at the bar level into intervention and delayed intervention arms.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Both an employee and a liquor server, security official, or owner/manager of a bar randomly selected to receive Safer Bars training immediately or after an assessment only phase of 4 months and that has not participated in the Safe Bars training in the past 12 months. Accepts healthy volunteers as defined by holding active employment. Employees may opt out of training and/or assessment.
Exclusion criteria
* None. No liquor servers are allowed by law to be younger than 19 years old.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Did Not Offer Promotions Aimed at Attracting Female Patrons Post-intervention | at baseline and up to 3 months | Self-reported survey items completed by bar owners/managers regarding promotions aimed at attracting female patrons |
| Number of Participants Who Reported Always Intervening Behavior at 6 Months | at baseline and up to 6 months | Self-reported survey items measuring actual behavior (action taken) in response to observation of sexual aggression in the bar environment will be analyzed to identify significant differences post-intervention. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Control Staff Delayed intervention: baseline and 3-month assessment prior to receiving the Safer Bars training.
Safer Bars: Safer Bars, a primary perpetration prevention program based on a bystander intervention model and the theory of planned behavior. Bar staff are trained to recognize and respond to sexual aggression and its precursors among patrons. | 310 |
| Intervention Staff This arm will consist of staff randomized to have the Safer Bars training on their premises attended by all their liquor serving staff with assessment directly before and after training (pre/post), and at 3 and 6 months post-training follow-up.
Safer Bars: Safer Bars, a primary perpetration prevention program based on a bystander intervention model and the theory of planned behavior. Bar staff are trained to recognize and respond to sexual aggression and its precursors among patrons. | 321 |
| Control Managers Delayed intervention: baseline and 3-month assessment prior to receiving the Safer Bars training.
Safer Bars: Safer Bars, a primary perpetration prevention program based on a bystander intervention model and the theory of planned behavior. Bar managers are trained to recognize and change bar policies and environment to reduce sexual aggression and its precursors among patrons. | 24 |
| Intervention Managers This arm with consist of managers randomized to have the Safer Bars training on their premises attended by all their liquor serving staff with assessment directly before and after training (pre/post), and at 3 months post-training follow-up.
Safer Bars: Safer Bars, a primary perpetration prevention program based on a bystander intervention model and the theory of planned behavior. Bar managers are trained to recognize and change bar policies and environment to reduce sexual aggression and its precursors among patrons. | 26 |
| Total | 681 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Control Staff | Intervention Staff | Control Managers | Intervention Managers | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 310 Participants | 321 Participants | 24 Participants | 26 Participants | 681 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized American Indian/Alaska Native | 3 Participants | 15 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 18 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Asian | 6 Participants | 4 Participants | 0 Participants | 1 Participants | 11 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Black/African-American | 5 Participants | 18 Participants | 0 Participants | 1 Participants | 24 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Hispanic/Latino | 98 Participants | 106 Participants | 6 Participants | 8 Participants | 218 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Middle Eastern/North African | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Multiracial | 18 Participants | 17 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 35 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 1 Participants | 2 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 3 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized Not reported | 19 Participants | 15 Participants | 3 Participants | 0 Participants | 37 Participants |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized White | 160 Participants | 144 Participants | 15 Participants | 16 Participants | 335 Participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Sex/Gender Female | 142 Participants | 126 Participants | 5 Participants | 13 Participants | 286 Participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Sex/Gender Male | 154 Participants | 179 Participants | 17 Participants | 13 Participants | 363 Participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Sex/Gender Not reported | 14 Participants | 16 Participants | 2 Participants | 0 Participants | 32 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 335 | 0 / 346 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 335 | 0 / 346 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 335 | 0 / 346 |
Outcome results
Primary
Did Not Offer Promotions Aimed at Attracting Female Patrons Post-intervention
Self-reported survey items completed by bar owners/managers regarding promotions aimed at attracting female patrons
Time frame: at baseline and up to 3 months
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Control Staff | Did Not Offer Promotions Aimed at Attracting Female Patrons Post-intervention | 13 Participants |
| Intervention Staff | Did Not Offer Promotions Aimed at Attracting Female Patrons Post-intervention | 15 Participants |
Primary
Number of Participants Who Reported Always Intervening Behavior at 6 Months
Self-reported survey items measuring actual behavior (action taken) in response to observation of sexual aggression in the bar environment will be analyzed to identify significant differences post-intervention.
Time frame: at baseline and up to 6 months
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Control Staff | Number of Participants Who Reported Always Intervening Behavior at 6 Months | 207 Participants |
| Intervention Staff | Number of Participants Who Reported Always Intervening Behavior at 6 Months | 239 Participants |