engleski

A study on predictors of prevention programs effectiveness

Available scientific knowledge from earlier successful and unsuccessful trials to prevent mental, emotional and behavioral problems offers a base for designing and implementing effective prevention programs and policies. Determinants of an intervention’s impact or effect are referred to as “effect predictors” or “effect moderators” (Hosman, 1994 ; Hosman & Engels, 1999). General principles gleaned from effective interventions may help mental health promotion and prevention practitioners to select, modify or create more effective programs. This paper will present the results of a study focused on assessing the predictors and moderators of prevention programs effectiveness on the cohort of 24 prevention interventions in Croatia. Study was conducted with the collaboration of University of Zagreb, Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences and the Region of Istria, Department of Health and Social Services. Within the study, written proposals of 24 prevention interventions were firstly assessed with the quality assessment instrument – Preffi 2.0 (Molleman et al., 2003). Preffi 2.0 consists of 39 quality criteria – effect predictors, variables that are demonstrably related to the program’s intended output. Its items are distributed within eight clusters: (1) problem analysis, (2) determinants of behavior and environment, (3) target group, (4) objectives, (5) intervention development, (6) implementation, (7) evaluation and (8) contextual conditions and feasibility. The outcome evaluation of included prevention interventions was also conducted. The main intention of the study was to examine if interventions that accomplish higher scores on Preffi 2.0 instrument achieve more effective outcomes than interventions which are not reflecting available knowledge on effect moderators. Methods of meta-analysis and hierarchical linear modelling were applied in analysing the validity of the Preffi 2.0 instrument in predicting the effectiveness of the interventions. Based on the results, specific directions and recommendations for developing more effective prevention programs and achieving desirable outcomes will be presented and elaborated.

prevention; effectivenes; effect moderators

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