Engaging Together for Healthy Relationships for Dating Abuse

(ETHR2 Trial)

Overseen By Maya Ragavan

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

Disqualifiers: Unable to assent/consent, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

120 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to evaluate a program designed to help caregivers and adolescents build healthy relationships and prevent dating violence. The program, called Engaging Together for Healthy Relationships, takes place in pediatric primary care settings and includes training for healthcare providers, resources for families, and follow-up support. Adolescents aged 12 to 16 with an upcoming well-child visit with a participating provider, along with their caregivers, may be eligible to join. Participants must speak and understand English to take part in the trial.

As an unphased trial, this study offers families a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could shape future interventions for healthy adolescent relationships.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that this program is safe for adolescents?

Research has shown that teaching teens about healthy relationships can reduce dating violence. A study in the journal *Pediatrics* found that these programs help decrease physical dating violence. This finding supports the idea that programs like Engaging Together for Healthy Relationships are safe and helpful. They teach families and caregivers how to encourage positive interactions. No reports indicate negative effects from participating in these educational programs. Overall, these programs are well-received and help make dating safer for teens. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the "Engaging Together for Healthy Relationships" program because it offers a holistic approach to addressing dating abuse, unlike traditional methods that often focus solely on individual therapy or educational sessions. This program uniquely combines clinician training, structured provider scripts, resource guides, and family engagement through a take-home box. Additionally, it leverages technology by sending post-visit text messages and providing access to a comprehensive website, which may enhance ongoing support and accessibility. By integrating these components, the program aims to create a supportive network that extends beyond the clinical setting, potentially leading to more sustained and impactful outcomes.

What evidence suggests that the Engaging Together for Healthy Relationships program is effective for dating abuse prevention?

Research has shown that programs like Engaging Together for Healthy Relationships, which participants in this trial will receive, positively impact young people's views and beliefs about relationships. Studies have found that these programs increase understanding of healthy romantic relationships and encourage the use of healthy relationship skills. For instance, several studies reported positive changes immediately after the program, indicating that participants develop better attitudes and awareness about relationships. Additionally, these programs have successfully prevented harmful behaviors, such as bullying and teen dating violence, among teenagers. This evidence suggests that Engaging Together for Healthy Relationships could improve relationship skills and reduce dating abuse. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Maya Ragavan, MD, MPH, MS

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adolescents and their caregivers. It's designed to prevent dating violence by improving communication and parenting strategies. The program will be delivered in pediatric primary care settings.

Inclusion Criteria

Providers: Sees patient at an eligible primary care clinic

Providers: Speaks and understands English

Providers: Identifies as a pediatrician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant (pediatric primary care healthcare provider)

Exclusion Criteria

Does not meet inclusion criteria

I am unable to understand or agree to the study on my own.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

6 months

Intervention

Participants receive the Engaging Together for Healthy Relationships program during pediatric primary care visits, including clinician training, provider scripts, resource guides, and post-visit text messages.

6 months

During well-visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in motivation, self-efficacy, and attitudes about adolescent relationship abuse, as well as the use of intervention resources.

3 months

Post-intervention Survey

Participants complete post-intervention surveys to assess the acceptability and effectiveness of the intervention.

1 month

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Engaging Together for Health Relationships

Trial Overview The 'Engaging Together for Healthy Relationships' program is being tested for its acceptability and feasibility as a dating violence prevention method in pediatric primary care environments.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Engaging Together for Healthy Relationships Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Providers and families in the intervention arm will receive the ETHR program which includes a clinician training, provider scripts, resource guides, a take home box for families, post-visit text messages, a comprehensive website, and warm referral processes.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Citations

1. acf.gov acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/effects%20of%20healthy%20marriage%20and%20relationship-jan2022.pdf

The Effects of Healthy Marriage and Relationship ... Our map summarizes the evidence on the effectiveness of HMRE programs for youth and how the evidence varies by the length of the studies' follow-up periods. In ...

2. mathematica.org mathematica.org/publications/the-effects-of-healthy-marriage-and-relationship-education-programs-for-youth

The Effects of Healthy Marriage and Relationship ... Several studies found favorable impacts immediately after the program on youths' relationship attitudes and beliefs and their willingness to use ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2924740/

Nurturing Healthy Relationships through a Community-based ... Promoting healthy relationships and preventing unhealthy behaviors, such as bullying and teen dating violence, among young adolescents was the goal of this ...

4. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02643944.2022.2054024

Healthy relationship education programmes for young people Thirty-six studies of seven programmes were found that focussed on one or more outcomes relating to healthy relationship skills, knowledge and attitudes.

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014019712100110X

Intervention programs designed to promote healthy ... Interventions were found to be effective for improving healthy romantic relationship knowledge in the target population.

6. engagingtogether.com engagingtogether.com/

Engaging Together for Healthy Relationships This website helps teens, caregivers, and families learn what healthy relationships look like and how to react if a relationship becomes unhealthy.

7. acf.gov acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/rivir_practice_brief_cleared_508_2.pdf

Healthy Relationship Program Influences: Evidence for ... This brief provides a synthesis of findings on how healthy relationship program participation could affect intimate partner violence (IPV) and teen dating ...

8. utmb.edu utmb.edu/utmb/utmb-news/2021/10/06/new-study-healthy-relationship-program-reduces-adolescent-relationship-abuse-and-physical-violence

New study: healthy relationship program reduces ... A study published today in Pediatrics found that a healthy relationship curriculum can reduce physical dating violence among adolescents.

9. dibbleinstitute.org dibbleinstitute.org/wp-new/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Healthy-Relationship-Education-for-Dating-Violence-Prevention.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOorGeLM5X8V7AaUfLM_YZ7TjfJV45wI52o2R7PqKxHZB0Pjq9cLZ

Healthy-Relationship-Education-for-Dating-Violence- ... While the Safe Dates program demonstrated an impact on actual physical and sexual aggression, other programs have produced positive short-term outcomes in the ...

10. opa.hhs.gov opa.hhs.gov/adolescent-health/healthy-relationships-adolescence

Healthy Relationships in Adolescence This page provides information on healthy and unhealthy adolescent relationships including: dating, friendships, and relationships with parents or caregivers.