Development of a Community-based Network for Drug Abusers

Development of a Community-based Network to Identify and Refer Drug Abusers in Hong Kong

Hidden drug abuse remains a significant concern for public health. An appropriate intervention is necessary to encourage hidden drug abusers to report their situations and seek professional help. This project aims to develop a community-based network to identify and refer hidden drug abusers in Hong Kong, and assess its effectiveness.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Adolescent
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: A video competition; Behavioral: A training workshop; Behavioral: A mass promotional campaign

Detailed Description

This study will be completed within 18 months, and be divided into 3 Phases, including (1) a video competition for anti-drug abuse, (2) development of a community-based network through training 150 peers aged 13-18 as anti-drug ambassadors (ADAs) to deliver anti-drug messages based on the AWARD model, and (3) a mass promotional campaign organized by ADAs in the community. A one-group pre-test and repeated post-test design will be adopted to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the community-based network. We will assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding anti-drug abuse of the ADAs. Data collection will be conducted at baseline, post-training, 3 months and 6 months after the training workshop.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 250
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Ka Yan Ho, PhD; Phone Number: 27666417

Study Locations

• Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong, China
    • Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, Hong Kong, 0000
      • Ka Yan Ho
      • Contact: Ka Yan HO, PhD; Phone Number: 852 27666417; Email: kyeva.ho@polyu.edu.hk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 13 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 13 - 18 years
• Able to speak Cantonese and read Chinese

Exclusion Criteria:

• identified cognitive, behavioral or learning problem(s)
• identified mental illness(es)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Phase 1: A video competition for anti-drug abuse; Phase 1 aims to increase the public awareness of hazardous effects of drug abuses and existing resources available for drug abusers through a video competition. We will co-organize a video competition for anti-drug abuse with C.H.O.I.C.E. The competition will appeal to the participation of all children (aged 13-18) living in the four targeted districts.	Behavioral: A video competition; Each Individual/group will be required to produce a maximum of 2-minute video on one of the following themes: (1) the hazardous effects of drug especially less psychotropic drugs such as Cannabis, (2) encouraging messages to drug abusers, and (3) existing anti-drug services.
Other: Phase 2: Developing a community-based network; Phase 2 aims to develop a community-based network through training anti-drug ambassadors (ADAs). We target to recruit a total of 150 children aged 13 - 18 as ADAs through secondary schools and community centres in the four targeted districts by sending invitation letters. The content of the workshop will be designed by our expert panel. The content of the workshop will include (1) hazardous effects of drug abuse especially less psychotropic drugs such as Cannabis, (2) signs and symptoms of drug abuse particularly less psychotropic drugs like Cannabis, (3) alternatives to drug abuse, (4) community resources available, and (5) how to refer drug abusers. Besides, all children will be taught to use the AWARD model for referrals in the workshop.	Behavioral: A training workshop; The workshop will last for 6 hours, and will be delivered by an experienced counsellor from C.H.O.I.C.E. The content of the workshop will include (1) hazardous effects of drug abuse especially less psychotropic drugs such as Cannabis, (2) signs and symptoms of drug abuse particularly less psychotropic drugs like Cannabis, (3) alternatives to drug abuse, (4) community resources available, and (5) how to refer drug abusers. Besides, all children will be taught to use the AWARD model for referrals in the workshop.
Other: Phase 3: A mass promotional campaign; Phase 3 aims to engage the public to join the community-based network through anti-drug activities organized by anti-drug ambassadors. They are encouraged to design their own promotional activities for community members in the targeted districts.Types of activities can include but not limited to health talks, booths, outreaching activities, games, posters, leaflets and websites.	Behavioral: A mass promotional campaign; Children who complete the training workshop in phase 2 will be invited to join phase 3. They are encouraged to design their own promotional activities for community members in the targeted districts. The activities can be delivered by a group (a maximum of 5 ADAs per group) or by an individual. Types of activities can include but not limited to health talks, booths, outreaching activities, games, posters, leaflets and websites. Likewise, if the ADAs encounter any drug abuser in their social circles, the ADAs will be asked to deliver a brief advice based on the AWARD model.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in knowledge about the hazardous effects of drug abuse among ADAs by using Beat Drugs Fund Evaluation Question Set No. 2	Change in knowledge about the hazardous effects of drug abuse among ADAs immediately after the training workshop when compared to baseline	Immediately after the training workshop

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in knowledge about the hazardous effects of drug abuse among ADAs by using Beat Drugs Fund Evaluation Question Set No. 2	Change in knowledge about the hazardous effects of drug abuse among ADAs at 3 months after the training workshop when compared to baseline	3 months after the training workshop
Change in knowledge about the hazardous effects of drug abuse among ADAs by using Beat Drugs Fund Evaluation Question Set No. 2	Change in knowledge about the hazardous effects of drug abuse among ADAs at 6 months after the training workshop when compared to baseline	6 months after the training workshop
Change in attitudes towards drug abuse and anti-drug abuse among ADAs by using Beat Drugs Fund Evaluation Question Set No. 1	Change in attitudes towards drug abuse and anti-drug abuse among ADAs immediately after the training workshop when compared to baseline	Immediately after the training workshop
Change in attitudes towards drug abuse and anti-drug abuse among ADAs by using Beat Drugs Fund Evaluation Question Set No. 1	Change in attitudes towards drug abuse and anti-drug abuse among ADAs at 3 months after the training workshop when compared to baseline	3 months after the training workshop
Change in attitudes towards drug abuse and anti-drug abuse among ADAs by using Beat Drugs Fund Evaluation Question Set No. 1	Change in attitudes towards drug abuse and anti-drug abuse among ADAs at 6 months after the training workshop when compared to baseline	6 months after the training workshop
Change in anti-drug practices among ADAs by using Anti-Drug Practice Questionnaires	Personal development questions among ADAs at 3 months after the training workshop when compared to baseline	3 months after the training workshop
Change in anti-drug practices among ADAs by using Anti-Drug Practice Questionnaires	Personal development questions among ADAs at 6 months after the training workshop when compared to baseline	6 months after the training workshop

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ka Yan Ho, phd, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): September 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): July 1, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): September 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 13, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 19, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): May 22, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 24, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 20, 2021
• Last Verified: May 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Adolescents; Brief intervention; Hidden drug abuse; Community-based network; Ambassadors
• Other Study ID Numbers: BDF 190003

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

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

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No