Evaluating the Back 2 School Program in a Norwegian Setting: A Multicenter Pilot Study

Summary

The goal of this interventional feasibility study is to gain experiences in using the Back 2 School (B2S) program for youth with school attendance problems in Norwegian community school- and health services. The main questions it aims to answer are: • What is the feasibility of the Back 2 School program when implemented in Norwegian community school- and health services? • What are the changes in school attendance rates, measures of psychological difficulties, and school related self-efficacy following the intervention? • How do participants experience the B2S program? 14 youth (10-15 years) with school attendance problems, their caregivers and the school participated in the B2S program provided by an interdisciplinary team during the school term of 2022-2023. Researchers will compare school attendance rates before entrance to the B2S program, at termination of the program and at 3-month follow-up. Also, researchers will compare reports on psychological difficulties, quality of life, and school related-self efficacy at baseline and after the intervention. Researchers investigate participants experiences with the program through qualitative interviews with youths, caregivers, teachers and service providers. The researchers further aim to prepare and establish resources and infrastructure for a large intervention study, and to establish a well-functioning cooperation between researchers, research organizations, and municipalities in different regions.

Conditions

• Absence
• School Phobia
• Truancy; Socialized
• Depression, Anxiety

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

The Back 2 School program for problematic school absenteeism

We will use the Danish version of the revised manual developed within the B2S study in Aarhus, Denmark. The B2S program consists of a 3 to 3,5 -hour initial clinical assessment, a clinical conference, 11 sessions where the youth and/or parent are attending, and a booster session after three months including youth and parent. The B2S manual comprise four school meetings with the child, parents, school staff and therapists present. In the Norwegian pilot study, we will add an extended school module to the B2S-program. The school module includes a pre-meeting interview with the schools in week 1 and session 1 with the school in week 2 or 3. The B2S counselor and the school will decide whether there is a need for an additional meeting between school meetings 1 and 2. There is also a booster session with the child, parents, the school and the B2S team 3 months after the program.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• UiT The Arctic University of Norway

  collaborator OTHER

• NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS

  collaborator OTHER

• Regionsenter for barn og unges psykiske helse

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Bergen

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Stavanger

  collaborator OTHER

• Norwegian University of Science and Technology

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Tromso

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Frode Adolfsen, PHD · UiT

• Kristin G Askeland, PHD · NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS

• Simon P Neumer, PHD · Regionssenter for barn og unge

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

6 Years

Max Age

16 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-09-20

Primary Completion

2023-08-15

Completion

2023-08-30

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations