A Feasibility (Pilot) Study of an Innovative Non-pharmacological Intervention Program in at Risk Youth

At risk youth face various adversities including homelessness, social isolation, substance abuse and other mental illnesses. Thus far, the investigators have successfully partnered on programs of housing, social and recreational interventions in this population. The investigators now wish to assess the feasibility of delivery of an innovative bio-psycho-social intervention, Youth Empowerment Seminar (YES!), developed by their partner, the not-for-profit Art of Living Foundation. Therefore, the aim of this research is to conduct a proof of concept study to determine the feasibility of a novel YES! program as an intervention for at risk youth.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: At Risk Youth
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Youth Empowerment Seminar, YES!

Detailed Description

STUDY DESIGN: The proposed is an open-label study with a mixed methods design. Research participants will be thirty youth between the ages of 16-25 years who are currently accessing any resource offered by Youth Opportunities Unlimited, London, ON. Youth will be enrolled in a rolling 8-week YES! Program repeated when adequate group size is achieved (>6 participants). Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected, which will allow for a detailed analysis of the feasibility of YES! as an intervention for youth at risk of homelessness.

STUDY RECRUITMENT: Participants for this study will be recruited through the Youth Action Centre (YAC) of Youth Opportunity Unlimited (YOU), London. Participants will be between 16 and 25 years of age. As this is a pilot study, the investigators have set the sample size to n=30, which is in accordance with current standards for pilot studies. The investigators anticipate to recruit participants at a rate of at least 1 youth/week. Advertisements about the study will be placed throughout YAC (located in the YOU Cornerstone Building, 332 Richmond St., London, ON, N6A 3C3) and Theresa McLachlan, a staff member with YOU Transition Services will provide interested youth with additional information as required. There is no obligation for the youth to take part in the study; all participation is voluntary.

SCREENING AND INITIAL ASSESSMENTS: Potential participants will be screened as per inclusion and exclusion criteria by trained research staff. Immediately prior to the start of the intervention trained raters will meet with participants to obtain demographic information and complete baseline measures of social inclusion, substance use and mental health. Specifically, the following scales will be administered:

1. demographic, service and housing history
2. community integration questionnaire
3. Global Appraisal of Individual Needs- Substance Problem Scale (GAIN-SPS), (GAIN-SPS is a subscale of a biopsychosocial battery that has been designed for clinical and program evaluation and has been validated for use in individuals 11 years of age and older), and
4. Colorado Symptom Index.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 39
• Phase: Early Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5W9
      • London Health Sciences Centre

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 25 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between 16-25 years of age
• Currently precariously housed and accessing resources offered by Youth Opportunities Unlimited
• Have sufficient hearing to be able to follow verbal instructions and able to sit without physical discomfort for 30 minutes
• Willing and able to attend 4 initial YES! training sessions and at least 5 of weekly follow up sessions.
• Willing to dedicate 20 minutes/daily to SKY practice

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently participating in other similar studies
• Currently practicing any type of formal meditation, mindfulness or breathing techniques regularly.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Other: Youth Empowerment Seminar, YES!; An 8-week innovative bio-psycho-social program (Youth Empowerment Seminar, YES!) will be offered to at risk youth participating in programs or resources offered by Youth Opportunities Unlimited. The YES! program will be taught in two phases: (1) an active learning phase which consists of four consecutive days (3 hrs/day) of SEL skills taught in a multi-modality interactive format as well as SKY training, and (2) a reinforcement phase which involves weekly follow up sessions (75-90 mins each) for the 7 weeks following the active phase. Two certified instructors from the Art of Living Foundation (Spencer Delisle and Mark Frye) will deliver this training under supervision of Ronnie Newman (RN). After the initial 4 day training, participants will be asked to practice SKY daily for 20-25 minutes in addition to attending the weekly follow up sessions.

Other: Youth Empowerment Seminar, YES!; An 8-week innovative bio-psycho-social program.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of potential participants approached per month.	The number of potential participants approached per month will be assessed at the end of each month. This information will be used to determine the feasibility of a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would examine the YES! program in at risk youth.	Through study completion, an average of one year
Number (proportion) of participants who are successfully screened.	The number (proportion) of participants who are successfully screened will be calculated at the end of the study. This information will be used to determine the feasibility of a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would examine the YES! program in at risk youth.	Through study completion, an average of one year
Number (proportion) of successfully screened participants who enroll.	The number (proportion) of successfully screened participants who enroll in the study will be calculated at the end of the study. This information will be used to determine the feasibility of a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would examine the YES! program in at risk youth.	Through study completion, an average of one year
Rate of participant retention.	The rate of participant retention will be assessed at the end of the study. This information will be used to determine the feasibility of a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would examine the YES! program in at risk youth.	Through study completion, an average of one year
Rate of adherence to study protocol.	At the end of the study any deviations from the protocol will be examined to determine the rate of adherence to the study protocol. This information will be used to determine the feasibility of a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would examine the YES! program in at risk youth.	Through study completion, an average of one year
Proportion of planned ratings that are completed.	The proportion of completed planned ratings will be calculated at the end of the study. This information will be used to determine the feasibility of a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would examine the YES! program in at risk youth.	Through study completion, an average of one year
Intervention cost per case	The cost per participant of attending the YES! program will be calculated. This information will be used to determine the feasibility of a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would examine the YES! program in at risk youth.	Through study completion, an average of one year
Completeness of final data for analysis.	Study data used for analysis will be examined at the end of the study to assess the completeness of the data. This information will be used to determine the feasibility of a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would examine the YES! program in at risk youth.	Through study completion, an average of one year
Length of time to collect all data.	The length of time to collect all study data will be calculated at the end of the study. This information will be used to determine the feasibility of a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would examine the YES! program in at risk youth.	Through study completion, an average of one year
Quality of all collected data.	At the end of the study the quality of all collected data will be assessed. This information will be used to determine the feasibility of a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would examine the YES! program in at risk youth.	Through study completion, an average of one year
Determining if YOU is willing to conduct the study as per study protocol.	At the end of the study any deviations YOU has made from study protocol will be assessed. This information will be used to determine the feasibility of a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would examine the YES! program in at risk youth.	Through study completion, an average of one year
Assess if it is safe to apply the intervention.	At the end of the study all recorded adverse events will be assessed. This information will be used to determine the feasibility of a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would examine the YES! program in at risk youth.	Through study completion, an average of one year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Community integration questionnaire	The Community Integration Questionnaire will be used to assess the social role and community interaction participants have at baseline compared to week 4 and week 8.	Change from baseline to Week 4 and 8.
Global Appraisal of Individual Needs- Substance Problem Scale (GAIN-SPS)	The Global Appraisal of Individual Needs - Substance Problem Scale (GAIN-SPS) will be used to assess any change in substance problems from baseline to week 4 and week 8.	Change from baseline to Week 4 and 8.
Colorado Symptom Index	The Colorado Symptom Index will be used to assess any change is psychiatric symptoms from baseline to week 4 and week 8.	Change from baseline to Week 4 and 8.
demographic, service and housing history (DSSH)	At baseline information will be collected on participants demographics and their service and housing history.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Lawson Health Research Institute

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 11, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): December 11, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 22, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 21, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): April 22, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 4, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 2, 2020
• Last Verified: September 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 107708

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO