Randomized Trial of a Social Networks Intervention

NCT03059433 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IRB#15-001190
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 446
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) is a college preparatory program that provides a unique opportunity to determine whether schools can reduce substance use by re-grouping at-risk students with high-performing students, while providing additional academic and emotional support. Operating in 4,837 K-12th grade schools worldwide and across 45 US states, this widely-disseminated program targets students from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education who are currently performing in the academic middle (i.e., a 2.0-3.5 grade point average). AVID removes these students from typical classrooms and exposes them to a peer network in which academic performance and positive social norms are valued. In addition, by strengthening the student/teacher relationship, AVID expands students' networks of supportive adults. For low-income minority students in the academic middle, relatively small investments in prevention might significantly impact their academic and health trajectories. AVID capitalizes on a moment when social networks are in flux-the transition to high school-to shift these students' trajectories. This study is a longitudinal, randomized pilot evaluation of AVID among low-income minority adolescents entering high school, comparing academic performance and drug use, as well as other risky behaviors, over 3 years. Although social networks are hypothesized to have a strong influence on behavior, few studies have tried to re-wire networks to change behaviors. This study will provide a clearer understanding of whether schools can intentionally shape networks and whether these changes can reduce substance use. This study will also explore important mechanistic questions about whether and how AVID changes peer networks and relationships with teachers, whether those changes lead to improvements in academic and behavioral outcomes and, if so, what the relative importance of peer versus adult network changes are.

Conditions

Adolescent Behavior

Keywords

Substance use; adolescent; health; social network

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in health of social network

  Investigators will evaluate whether students randomized to AVID report healthier social networks (lower proportion of peers engaging in risky behaviors and a higher number of supportive adults) than control students.

  change in health of social network between baseline and 3 year follow up

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Frequency of risky health behaviors

  change in frequency of risky health behaviors between baseline and 3 year follow up

• Change in peer or adult social network

  change in risky behavior between baseline and 3 year follow up

• Assumptions of AVID students' level of their own risky health behaviors

  change in student assumption of risky behavior between baseline and 3 year follow up

Study Arms (3)

AVID Intervention

175 students will be randomized via lottery by the participating high school to be part of the AVID program. These students will receive 4 surveys (8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade).

Other: AVID Intervention

Non AVID

175 students will be randomized via lottery by the participating high school to be part of our control group. This group of students will be similar to the AVID group, except they will not be in the AVID program. They will also complete 4 surveys (8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade).

High Performing

175 students who are identified as high performing (middle school grade point average \>3.5) by the participating high school. They will also complete 4 surveys (8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade).

Interventions

AVID Intervention OTHER

Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) is a college preparatory program that participating high schools have available to students.

Also known as: AVID

AVID Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants must be eighth grade students who are entering a Los Angeles Unified School District high school that is having a lottery for admission into their AVID program.

You may qualify if:

• applied to and was deemed eligible for AVID by the AVID coordinator
• Student participated in the AVID lottery
• Parent consents to participate in study
• Student assents to participate in study
• Middle school Grade Point Average (GPA) \>3.5
• Planning to attend study high school
• Parent consents to participate in study
• Student assents to participate in study

You may not qualify if:

• Student did not apply to AVID
• Student was deemed ineligible for AVID by the AVID coordinator/local AVID admissions process
• Student did not participate in the AVID lottery
• Parent does not consent for study participation
• Student does not assent for study participation
• Middle school Grade Point Average (GPA)\<3.5
• Not planning to attend study high school
• Parent does not consent for study participation
• Student does not assent for study participation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, Los Angeles: lead
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Adolescent Behavior; Substance-Related Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Rebecca Dudovitz, MD, MS

  University of California, Los Angeles

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 13, 2017
• First Posted: February 23, 2017
• Study Start: April 21, 2017
• Primary Completion: July 2, 2021
• Study Completion: July 6, 2022
• Last Updated: October 3, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)