Mental Health
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this exploratory study is to test the Strong Family (SF) programme in improving family functioning. Participants will be randomized to one of the two study arms 1)- Intervention group in which participants will receive 3 group sessions of SF programme (8-12 families per group) 2)- Control group (control group will be in the waiting list and receive SF training sessions once the study will be completed).
Detailed description
This will be multicentre feasibility randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of the SF programme in improving family skills outcomes and caregiver and child mental health, as reported by caregivers when implemented in Gilgit-Baltistan. The study will record families' rates of recruitment and attendance to SF programme, evaluate the completeness of programme delivery, cultural acceptability through qualitative interviews and assess the fidelity of training delivery. A small pilot study with N=10 families (a female caregiver (mother) and one child between the age of 8-15 years from each family) will be conducted before main RCT. The study will be conducted in three sites including Karachi, Lahore and Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. We will interview a subset of participants i.e. up to 5 caregivers from each study site (N=15 caregivers) to explore participants' opinions on the acceptability of the programme and to explore any barriers or facilitators to participation.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALStrong Families Programme Intervention
This is a family skills programme providing an evidence-informed prevention to support caregivers to be better parents and strengthen positive age-specific and age-appropriate family functioning and interactions to help prevent drug use, violence and other negative social consequences in their children.
Sponsors
Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning
UNODC
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Female primary caregiver to a child aged between 8-15 years * Able to speak and understand Urdu language * Capable to give informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Families that had already taken part in another family skills training programme in the past 6 months or where the caregiver lived separately from the child * Not the primary caregiver of the child * Unlikely to be available for the duration of the whole study and outcome assessments (e.g., temporary residence).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility and acceptability indicators | From baseline to end of intervention at 3 weeks (post randomisation) | We will record feasibility indicators in terms of families' rates of recruitment and attendance to programme, and programme completeness. To evaluate cultural acceptability of programme by families, interviews with caregivers will be conducted to explore family members' opinions on the acceptability of the programme, any barriers or facilitators to participation. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire | At baseline, week 5 and week 9 of post baseline | The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire is a brief behavioural screening questionnaire and ask about 25 attributes, some positive and others negative. This will be administered to both child and the caregiver. |
| Parenting and Family Adjustment Scale | At baseline, week 5 and week 9 of post baseline | This will measures parenting practices and parental adjustment. This scale has been developed to be used in low resource settings. |
| Child and Youth Resilience Measure | At baseline, week 5 and week 9 of post baseline | This is a screening tool to explore the resources available that may bolster resilience. |
Countries
Pakistan
Contacts
CONTACTMUQADDAS ASIF
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORSalman Shahzad
Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning
Outcome results
None listed