Impact of PAX Good Behavior Game on Elementary School Students in Estonia (PAXGBGEE)

National Institute for Health Development, Estonia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Mental Disorders; Mental Health Wellness 1

Treatments: Behavioral: PAX Good Behavior Game

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02865603

T90-C305

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to measure the impact of the intervention (PAX GBG) in Estonian-language 1st grade classrooms on students' mental health and behaviour, and teacher's self-efficacy.

Full description

2-year, matched-pair, cluster-randomized controlled trial with a intervention and wait-list control arm is conducted during school years 2016/17 and 2017/18. 42 volunteering schools were matched to pairs. One school in each pair was randomly selected to receive the PAX GBG or continue their normal activities without intervention. After a post-test assessment in spring 2018 the control group teachers are trained and supported to implement PAX GBG.

Enrollment: 708 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 8 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

All schools with first grade classrooms and Estonian-language as instruction language in Estonia were qualified to take part of the study if they did fit the inclusion criteria.

Schools were suitable to participate if they:

• Had equal to or more than 13 pupils in the first grade classroom in 2016/17 school term;
• Did not implement any other evidence-based program in basic school stage 1 (grades 1-3), (for example KiVa bullying prevention program);
• Did not already implement PAX GBG;
• Had at least one first grade teacher who volunteers to participate for the whole study period of two years.

Exclusion criteria

• Schools for children with special educational needs and schools with Russian language as instruction language were excluded.
• Schools with single-sex classrooms were excluded.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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708 participants in 2 patient groups

PAX Good Behavior Game

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention is delivered by teachers within the normal school curriculum. Teachers from intervention classes completed 3-day training and were supported by the mentor, who visited their class during the 2016/17 school year and provided counseling via e-mail and phone. During the second year (2017/18) teachers could use the PAX GBG methods, but they did not receive additional support from the mentors.

Treatment:

Behavioral: PAX Good Behavior Game

Waitlist control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Control group continue their normal activities without intervention. After a post-test assessment in spring 2018 the control group teachers will be trained and supported to implement PAX GBG.