Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Children from substance (drug) abusing families have a high risk of developing psychological or substance related disorders in adolescence or early adulthood. However, in Germany there are few prevention programs aimed at reducing psychological stress for these children, and to date none have been scientifically tested. The aim of this study is to develop and test a modular group program called Trampoline for 8- to 12-year-old children from substance-abusing families in Germany.
Who can participate?
Children aged 8-12 who have at least one drug-abusing parent
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to receive either the Trampoline program or treatment as usual.
The Trampoline program consists of nine modules (each 90 minutes) including exercises, role play, relaxation techniques, discussions and education. Before and after the program and 6 months later all participating children are assessed using questionnaires about current parental substance use, stress level and coping strategies, family relationship quality, self-worth, self-efficacy and satisfaction with the intervention. The parents also report on several of these areas and on parenting style and child behaviour.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The results of this study will provide fundamental information on the effectiveness of a structured group prevention program for German children from substance abusing families, helping to create a more effective system of help for this high-risk group. There are no physical or psychological risks for participants.
Where is the study run from?
German Center for Addiction Research in Childhood and Adolescence (Deutsches Zentrum für Suchtfragen des Kindes- und Jugendalters [DZSKJ]) (Germany)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2008 to March 2012
Who is funding the study?
Federal Ministry of Health (Germany)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Annika Wiedow
a.wiedow@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Annika Wiedow
ORCID ID
Contact details
Martinistraße 52
Hamburg
20246
Germany
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a.wiedow@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
IIA5-2508DSM211
Study information
Scientific title
Project Trampoline - designing and evaluating a modular prevention program for children from substance-abusing families: a longitudinal prospective randomized controlled multi centre study
Acronym
Trampoline
Study hypothesis
1. Children of substance abusing parents who have participated in the trampoline program (intervention group), in contrast to children who have participated in the attending playgroup (control group 1), have a significant improvement in their coping strategies immediately after the intervention (time t2), general and in relation to parental substance abuse.
2. Children of substance abusing parents, who participated in the trampoline program (intervention group), in contrast to children who have participated in the play group (control group 1), also 6 months after the intervention (time t3) is still significant improvements in their chosen coping strategies, general and in terms of parental addiction.
The following hypotheses are not formulated for practical reasons for each relevant survey period, a separate hypothesis, but the particular hypothesis divided into parts a) time t 2 and b) at time t3.
3. Children of substance abusing parents, who participated in the trampoline program (intervention group), in contrast to children who have, references to the play groups (control group 1), a) direct (time t2) and b) 6 months after the intervention (time t3), have a significant improvement in their psychological distress.
4. Children of substance abusing parents, who participated in the trampoline program (intervention group), in contrast to children who have participated in the play group (control group 1), a) direct (time t2) and b) 6 months after the intervention (time t3), a significant improvement in their level of knowledge on the effects of alcohol and other drugs, the clinical picture of "addiction" and the effects of addiction to other family members.
5. Children of substance abusing parents, who participated in the trampoline program (intervention group), in contrast to children who have participated in the play group (control group 1), a) direct (time t2) and b) 6 months after the intervention (time t3), have a significant improvement in their self-concept and their self-worth.
6. Children of substance abusingparents, who participated in the trampoline program (intervention group), in contrast to children who have participated in the play group (control group 1), a) direct (time t2) and b) 6 months after the intervention (time t3), have a significant improvement in their self-efficacy.
7. Children of substance abusing parents, who participated in the trampoline program (intervention group), in contrast to children who have participated in the play group (control group 1), a) direct (time t2) and b) 6 months after the intervention (time t3), have a significant improvement in their health-related quality of life, that mean their subjective health and well-being.
Ethics approval
The Medical Association of Hamburg, 19/11/2009
Study design
Longitudinal randomized controlled cross-sectional study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Prevention
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Counseling program for children of substance abusing families
Intervention
Intervention group, participants N = 120, group intervention with 9 modules (each 90 min), relevant addiction-related content
Control group, participants N = 120, play group with 9 modules (each 90 min), addiction-unrelated content
1. Trampoline is a modular, manualized group intervention designed for 6-8 participants, aged 8-12 years. Special attention is paid to a recurring structure of the sessions, which children often lack in substance-affected homes.
1.1. 9 modules with 90 min., 2 parents sessions
1.2. Relevant addiction-related content
1.3. Interactive, age- and gender-sensitive setup
1.4. Exercises, roles-play, relaxation techniques, discussions, education
Modules:
1. Create trust and positive group atmosphere
2. Self-worth: how I feel about myself
3. Alcohol and / or drug problems in my family
4. What I need to know about drugs and addiction
5. Handling difficult emotions
6. Self-efficacy: What I can do to solve problems
7. Learning new behaviours in my family
8. What I can do to find help and support
9. A positive goodbye
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Children:
1. Learn effective coping strategies (dealing with emotions, problem-solving strategies in the family, help-seeking behavior).
2. Reduction of mental stress by solving the taboo topic addiction
4. Increase the level of knowledge of the children on the effects of drugs and the effect of addiction on the person and their family
5. Increase self-esteem / building a positive self-concept
6. Increase self-efficacy
All data (sociodemographic details, outcome variables) are measured by questionnaires, one for children and one for their parents. Three points of measurement exist: pre treatment, post treatment and six-months-follow-up
Secondary outcome measures
Adults
1.Strengthening the parents regarding their confidence in parenting
2.Promoting parenting skills
3.Greater awareness of the impact of parental addiction on children
All data (sociodemographic details, outcome variables) are measured by questionnaires, one for children and one for their parents. Three points of measurement exist: pre treatment, post treatment and six-months-follow-up
Overall trial start date
01/10/2008
Overall trial end date
31/03/2012
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Age range from 8-12 years
2. Current or recent past substance abuse or dependence at least one parent, a positive diagnosis is crucial in the last year
3. The children have in the past two years lived together with the (step) parent, fell ill at least half a year, respectively, have had regular visitation or contact with on weekends - in the case of the parents living apart.
4. Written consent of parents and children to participate in the study
5. No diagnosis or no suspicion of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders = FASD) in children
Participant type
Other
Age group
Child
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
240
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Relevant treatment in the last 6 months prior to study at the project site or at another institution (relevant to the objectives of this study treatment, e.g. when the child was explicitly told about the impact of parental addiction, counseling or support is provided.
1.1. Not excluded are children participating in group or individual programs unrelated to the study aims, e.g., homework assistance, occupational therapy etc. Children who participate in any kind of programs/groups targeting the substance abuse of the parents have to be excluded
1.2. Has the child attended in the past because of the impact of parental addiction on a specific measure, but this is already longer than 6 months back, the child may participate in the project, since no treatment effects of the measure can be accepted.
Recruitment start date
01/10/2008
Recruitment end date
31/03/2012
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Germany
Trial participating centre
Martinistraße 52
Hamburg
20246
Germany
Sponsor information
Organisation
German Center for Addiction Research in Childhood and Adolescence (DZSKJ) (Germany)
Sponsor details
c/o Dr Annika Wiedow
University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf
Center for Psychosocial Medicine
Martinistrasse 52
Hamburg
20246
Germany
+49 (0)40 741 059 873
a.wiedow@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Sponsor type
Hospital/treatment centre
Website
http://www.uke.de/zentren/suchtfragen-kinder-jugend/index.php
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (ref: IIA5-2508DSM211)
Alternative name(s)
Federal Ministry of Health, Germany, Federal Ministry of Health, BMG
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Federal/National Government
Location
Germany
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2012 protocol in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22439919
Publication citations
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Study design
Bröning S, Wiedow A, Wartberg L, Ruths S, Haevelmann A, Kindermann SS, Moesgen D, Schaunig-Busch I, Klein M, Thomasius R, Targeting children of substance-using parents with the community-based group intervention TRAMPOLINE: a randomised controlled trial--design, evaluation, recruitment issues., BMC Public Health, 2012, 12, 223, doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-223.