Adolescence, Feasibility Studies, Health Behavior
Conditions
Keywords
feasibility study, school-based intervention, life skills, adolescents, Belize, implementation science, acceptability
Brief summary
THRIVE-Belize is a school-based program being developed to support the health and well-being of adolescents in the Toledo District of southern Belize. The program covers seven topics: communication and emotional regulation, healthy expressions of masculinity, sexual and reproductive health, healthy relationships, mental and physical health, substance use prevention, and environmental health. Before testing whether the program works, the research team needs to learn whether students, teachers, parents, school staff, and community members find it acceptable, appropriate, and practical to deliver at Toledo Community College. This study (Phase I) does not deliver the program to anyone. Instead, it gathers feedback through surveys, focus groups, and interviews with about 280 participants across these five groups. The information collected will be used to refine the program and decide whether to move forward to a future pilot study. No medical or educational intervention is given to participants in this phase.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
University of Arizona
Hillside Health Care
Toledo Community College
Study design
Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Students: enrolled at Toledo Community College in Forms 1-4; ages 12-18 years; able to read and comprehend English at grade level; provides written assent; has active written parental/guardian consent * Teachers: currently employed at TCC; teaches students in Forms 1-4; provides written informed consent * Parents/Guardians: parent or legal guardian of an eligible TCC student; age 18 years or older; able to communicate in English, Spanish, or Q'eqchi'-Mopan Maya; provides written informed consent * School Principal and Administrative Staff: currently serving as principal or administrative staff at TCC; provides written informed consent * Community Stakeholders: recognized expertise in adolescent health, education, or youth services (e.g., healthcare providers, religious leaders, village council members, youth organization leaders); resident of Toledo District, Belize; provides written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Cognitive or developmental limitations preventing informed assent or participation (students) * Declines to participate (students or parents/guardians)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptability of the proposed intervention (AIM) | Single timepoint at post-assessment data collection (study months 1-2) | Mean score on the adapted 4-item Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), 5-point Likert scale (1=Strongly Disagree to 5=Strongly Agree). A mean score of 4.0 or higher indicates acceptability. |
| Appropriateness of the proposed intervention (IAM) | Single timepoint at post-assessment data collection (study months 1-2) | Mean score on the adapted 4-item Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM), 5-point Likert scale. A mean score of 4.0 or higher indicates appropriateness. |
| Feasibility of the proposed intervention (FIM) | Single timepoint at post-assessment data collection (study months 1-2) | Mean score on the adapted 4-item Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM), 5-point Likert scale. A mean score of 4.0 or higher indicates feasibility. |
| Adoption and organizational readiness | Single timepoint at post-assessment data collection (study months 1-2) | Proportion of stakeholders expressing intent to support or participate in the proposed intervention, supplemented by qualitative themes related to readiness and barriers from focus groups and interviews. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment and consent feasibility | Throughout the recruitment period (study months 1-2) | Consent/assent rates (target: at least 60%), retention rates, and reasons for non-participation. |
| Measurement feasibility and respondent burden | Single timepoint at post-assessment data collection (study months 1-2) | Survey completion rates (target: at least 90%), item-level missingness, and participant-reported comprehension of instruments. |
| Facilitator and delivery feasibility | Single timepoint at post-assessment data collection (study months 1-2) | Qualitative assessment of teacher capacity, willingness to deliver the curriculum (target: at least 60% willing), training needs, and scheduling constraints. |
Countries
Belize
Contacts
CONTACTMario Morales, PhD
CONTACTGabriela Valdez, PhD
Outcome results
None listed