Fine 2021.
| Study characteristics | |
| Methods |
Study design: cluster‐RCT Duration of study: the study was conducted from September 2018 to February 2019. Country: Tanzania Income classification: low‐income country in 2018‐2019 Geographical scope: Mtendeli refugee camp in the Kigoma region of northwestern Tanzania Healthcare setting: 6 villages in Zone A of Mtendeli refugee camp, Burundian population |
| Participants | 1. Age: adolescents between the ages of 10 and 14 (mean = 12.3, SD = 1.5); caregivers between the ages of 20 and 60 (mean = 39.5, SD = 10.1) 2. Gender: both 3. Socioeconomic background: not reported 4. Educational background: for adolescents, levels of education ranged from 1 to 8 years, with a larger group (42.7%) reporting 4 to 5 years of schooling; for caregivers, higher on average amongst the ETAU group, with 41.4% reporting 6 or more years in school compared to 14.3% in the EASE group). Inclusion criteria: a. eligible adolescents screened positive for psychological distress based on a score ≥ 8 on the Kirundi version of the Child Psychosocial Distress Screener (CPDS); b. residence in the village for the duration of the study; c. fluency in Kirundi; d. ability to follow and understand verbal instructions. Exclusion criteria: a. severe cognitive or neurological impairment as determined by the caregiver‐reported Ten Questions Screen (Durkin 1990); b. imminent suicide risk; c. lack of caregiver consent. Note: at baseline, the total sample scores for the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) were 7.5 (9.3). Stated purpose: to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, relevance, and safety of the World Health Organization’s Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) intervention amongst Burundian refugee adolescents and their caregivers in Tanzania |
| Interventions |
Name: EASE intervention Title/name of PW and number: 9 facilitators from the community—adult refugees (5 EASE facilitators and 4 ETAU facilitators) 1. Selection: based on their experience 2. Educational background: at least a high school education 3. Training: 8‐day training consisted of education on distress in adolescents, group management skills, facilitation skills, and basic counselling skills. The training also included role‐plays to rehearse key strategies of the EASE intervention in a classroom environment, as well as practice cycles in which facilitators administered full EASE sessions to their peers while under observation by a local supervisor. 4. Supervision: fidelity was monitored during intervention delivery, and weekly group supervision was provided to EASE facilitators by local supervisor. 5. Incentives/remuneration: not specified Prevention type: indicated prevention – adolescent refugees screening positive for psychological distress were eligible for inclusion. CPSS scores indicated minimal symptoms related to PTSD. Intervention details: EASE intervention was developed by the WHO to reduce symptoms of internalizing disorders, including depression and anxiety, amongst young adolescents living in contexts of adversity in LMICs. The manualized intervention consists of 7 weekly group sessions for 10‐ to 14‐year‐olds and is designed to be delivered in‐person by nonspecialist facilitators. Control: usual care (ETAU – enhanced treatment‐as‐usual consisting of individual psychoeducation session, which was provided jointly for an eligible adolescent and his or her caregiver, and was conducted in each participating family’s home) |
| Outcomes |
Participants’outcomes of interest for this review
Carers’ outcomes of interest for this review Nil Economic outcomes Nil Time points: baseline, post‐intervention (< 1 month) |
| Notes |
Source of funding: Oak Foundation Notes on validation of instruments (screening and outcomes): “CPSS, SWEMWBS, and CTQ have been validated in a range of cross‐cultural settings.” Additional information: none Handling the data: not applicable Prospective trial registration number: not specified |