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Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Study protocol

Effectiveness and micro-costing of the KiVa school-based bullying prevention programme in Wales: study protocol for a pragmatic definitive parallel group cluster randomised controlled trial

Authors: Suzy Clarkson, Nick Axford, Vashti Berry, Rhiannon Tudor Edwards, Gretchen Bjornstad, Zoe Wrigley, Joanna Charles, Zoe Hoare, Obioha C. Ukoumunne, Justin Matthews, Judy Hutchings

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Bullying refers to verbal, physical or psychological aggression repeated over time that is intended to cause harm or distress to the victims who are unable to defend themselves. It is a key public health priority owing to its widespread prevalence in schools and harmful short- and long-term effects on victims’ well-being. There is a need to strengthen the evidence base by testing innovative approaches to preventing bullying. KiVa is a school-based bullying prevention programme with universal and indicated elements and an emphasis on changing bystander behaviour. It achieved promising results in a large trial in Finland, and now requires testing in other countries. This paper describes the protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) of KiVa in Wales.

Methods/Design

The study uses a two-arm waitlist control pragmatic definitive parallel group cluster RCT design with an embedded process evaluation and calculation of unit cost. Participating schools will be randomised a using a 1:1 ratio to KiVa plus usual provision (intervention group) or usual provision only (control group). The trial has one primary outcome, child self-reported victimisation from bullying, dichotomised as ‘victimised’ (bullied at least twice a month in the last couple of months) versus ‘not victimised’. Secondary outcomes are: bullying perpetration; aspects of child social and emotional well-being (including emotional problems, conduct, peer relations, prosocial behaviour); and school attendance. Follow-up is at 12 months post-baseline. Implementation fidelity is measured through teacher-completed lesson records and independent school-wide observation. A micro-costing analysis will determine the costs of implementing KiVa, including recurrent and non-recurrent unit costs. Factors related to the scalability of the programme will be examined in interviews with head teachers and focus groups with key stakeholders in the implementation of school-based bullying interventions.

Discussion

The results from this trial will provide evidence on whether the KiVa programme is transportable from Finland to Wales in terms of effectiveness and implementation. It will provide information about the costs of delivery and generate insights into factors related to the scalability of the programme.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN23999021 Date 10-6-13
Footnotes
1
The algorithm is tuned to allow a balance between predictability and balance between the allocated groups, within stratification variables and the strata (stratification variable combinations). As all participants will be recruited before randomisation in this instance the algorithm ensures exact balance between the groups, stratification variables and strata.
 
2
The score for the hyperactivity/inattention scale was 0.83 but this outcome is not examined in the present study, as it is not hypothesised that the programme will have an impact on it.
 
3
Data will also be collected at 24 months post-baseline (June/July 2015) because the online survey is part of the KiVa programme, but as the control group will receive the intervention in the second year of the study the data cannot be used as part of the RCT.
 
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Metadata
Title
Effectiveness and micro-costing of the KiVa school-based bullying prevention programme in Wales: study protocol for a pragmatic definitive parallel group cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors
Suzy Clarkson
Nick Axford
Vashti Berry
Rhiannon Tudor Edwards
Gretchen Bjornstad
Zoe Wrigley
Joanna Charles
Zoe Hoare
Obioha C. Ukoumunne
Justin Matthews
Judy Hutchings
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2746-1

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