In-School Evaluation of Bystander: A Game-Based Intervention for Sexual Violence Prevention

The University of Chicago

Status: Completed

Conditions: Bystander Behavioral Intentions

Treatments: Behavioral: Infection City, a game-based program about meningitis; Behavioral: Bystander, a game-based bystander intervention program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02919098

IRB15-1404

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators have developed a game-based sexual violence prevention program that uses a bystander intervention approach. This program is called Bystander and was designed for use with high school students in grades 9-12. The goal of this research is to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of Bystander when implemented in a school setting. The research will capture data on knowledge about sexual violence and harassment, as well as attitudes, self-efficacy, perceived social norms and behavioral intentions around bystander behaviors. This research will consist of a baseline survey, program participation, a immediate post-program survey, and a 3-month follow up survey with youth participants. It will also involve qualitative in-depth interviews with school staff and administration about the program.

Full description

Using the investigators' experience in game-based learning, digital media, behavior theory, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health, the investigators have developed a digital game-based sexual violence prevention program-Bystander-to be used with high school students to teach them about prosocial bystander behaviors and decrease acceptance of common rape myths. The goal of this research is to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of Bystander when implemented in a school setting.

This study will evaluate Bystander, a four-module intervention program. Each module is designed to last one school class period. It includes 20 minutes of individual gameplay through an interactive narrative featuring prosocial bystander behaviors and discussions dispelling rape myths. Each module also includes facilitated class discussion about the topics covered that day.

The research team will conduct a pre/post efficacy and feasibility study that will capture data through a pre-, immediate post-, and 3-month follow up survey on knowledge about sexual violence and harassment, as well as attitudes, self-efficacy, perceived social norms and behavioral intentions around bystander behaviors (all measured at pre-, immediate post- and follow-up time points). It will also capture demographic information and previous bystander behaviors at baseline. It will finally involve qualitative in-depth interviews with school staff and administration about the program.

Enrollment: 601 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 13 to 19 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 13-19 years
• A student in grades 9-12 at one of three identified study site schools
• Able to speak and read English at a 7th grade level
• Provide informed consent and express willingness to complete the follow-up survey.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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601 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Two schools (all students grades 9-12) will serve as the intervention group.Participants will complete a baseline survey that will take no longer than 30 minutes. Afterwards, a trained facilitator will delivery a game-based bystander intervention program aimed at teaching students the knowledge and skills to prevent or intervene in instances in sexual harassment and violence among peers. This will last for 4 class periods (approximately 45 minutes each period, 180 minutes total). Afterwards, participants will complete an immediate post-program survey lasting no more than 30 minutes. Three months later, students will fill out an a follow up survey lasting no more than 30 minutes. School staff and administrators will be interviewed to gather their insights on the program's feasibility and acceptability.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Bystander, a game-based bystander intervention program

Delayed Control

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

One school (all students grades 9-12) will serve as a delayed control group. Participants will complete a baseline survey that will take no longer than 30 minutes. Afterwards, a trained facilitator will delivery a game-based health program unrelated to sexual health, sexual violence, sexual harassment, and bystander behaviors. This will last for 4 class periods (approximately 45 minutes each period, 180 minutes total). Afterwards, participants will complete an immediate post-program survey lasting no more than 30 minutes. Three months later, students will fill out an a follow up survey lasting no more than 30 minutes. After completing the follow-up survey, this group will follow the same procedures to deliver the bystander program and capture data outlined for the intervention group.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Bystander, a game-based bystander intervention program

Behavioral: Infection City, a game-based program about meningitis