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Adapting the personality‐targeted P reventure program to prevent substance use and associated harms among high‐risk A ustralian adolescents
Author(s) -
Barrett Emma L.,
Newton Nicola C.,
Teesson Maree,
Slade Tim,
Conrod Patricia J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/eip.12114
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , focus group , substance use , intervention (counseling) , population , psychology , personality , medical education , medicine , clinical psychology , psychiatry , environmental health , social psychology , marketing , business
Aim Substance use among adolescents is of significant concern and the need for preventive interventions is clear. Although universal prevention programs have shown to reduce substance use among Australian adolescents, no effective selective program has been developed for high‐risk youth in A ustralia. P reventure is a personality‐targeted intervention that has shown to be effective in the UK and C anada and is yet to be trialled in A ustralia. Before doing so, it is necessary to ensure the content is relevant for the Australian setting. This study reports data collected to update and adapt the UK ‐based P reventure program for use in A ustralia. Methods Eight focus groups were conducted with 69 students from three secondary schools in S ydney, A ustralia. Students who screened high risk for early‐onset substance misuse were invited to participate in focus groups specific to their personality profile and provide feedback. Written feedback was also obtained from 12 teachers and health professionals. Results Students, teachers and experts recommended specific changes to the content, language, scenarios and graphics of the P reventure manuals. The majority of teachers and experts believed that the educational content of the program was appropriate for students and that it would be effective in reducing substance use in this population. Conclusions The information obtained in the current study was used to update the P reventure program for use with A ustralian adolescents. It is expected that this modified P reventure program will demonstrate similar effects in reducing alcohol and drug use among high‐risk youth in A ustralia, as it did in the UK and C anada.