Miles de Manos Program for Domestic Violence Prevention

(MdM Trial)

Overseen By J Mark Eddy, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin

Disqualifiers: Prior program implementation

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

3000 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Violence is one of the leading causes of death for young people and has widespread costs for individuals, families and communities. This study will test the effectiveness of Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands), a group-based violence prevention program for elementary school students in Honduras. Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands) has three components: parents/caregiver groups, teacher groups, and groups that combine parents/caregivers and teachers together. The study will examine the program's impact on parent and teacher's behaviors as well as student behavior problems.

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 data supports the effectiveness of the Miles de Manos treatment for domestic violence prevention?

Research shows that interventions like counseling and outreach can significantly reduce the severity of abuse in pregnant women, suggesting that similar approaches in the Miles de Manos treatment may also be effective in preventing domestic violence. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Miles de Manos Program for Domestic Violence Prevention safe for participants?

The research articles provided do not contain specific safety data for the Miles de Manos Program or similar interventions. They focus on the effectiveness and challenges of domestic violence services and technology safety projects, but do not address safety concerns related to the program itself. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

How does the Miles de Manos Program for Domestic Violence Prevention differ from other treatments for domestic violence?

The Miles de Manos Program is unique because it focuses on culturally tailored prevention efforts specifically for Hispanics, addressing their unique needs and preferences, and prioritizing youth and cultural factors in its approach. ^{10 11 12 13 14}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for students in grades 3-5, their parents, and teachers from selected schools near Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Schools must be in urban or semi-urban areas with no previous use of the Miles de Manos program and show commitment from staff, leaders, and the community.

Inclusion Criteria

Students in grades 3-5, and their parents and teachers, from participating schools located in neighborhoods in and around Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Participating schools must have no prior implementation of Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands)

School location must be in urban or semi-urban areas

Exclusion Criteria

Schools with prior implementation of Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands)

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Parents and teachers receive the Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands) intervention, which includes cognitive-behavioral skills training and a bridge component for collaboration.

6-9 months

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in behavior and adjustment outcomes post-intervention.

6-9 months

Long-term Follow-up

Further assessment of behavior and adjustment outcomes approximately 1 year post-baseline.

12-15 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands)

Trial Overview The effectiveness of 'Miles de Manos', a violence prevention program for elementary school children in Honduras is being tested. It involves group sessions with parents/caregivers, teachers, and combined groups to reduce behavior problems.

Participant Groups

Group I: Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands) Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Parents and teachers from schools randomized to this arm will receive the Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands) intervention. Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands) comprises 3 components: a cognitive-behavioral skills training component for parents (8 sessions), a cognitive-behavioral skills training component for school staff (10 sessions), and a "bridge" component that brings parents, teachers, and school administrators together to talk about how to support each other's efforts related to youth violence prevention (4 sessions). Core elements include effective communication, clear expectations, limits and consequences, positive reinforcement, adult supervision and monitoring, effective problem solving, and emotion regulation. Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands) is highly interactive and involves brief lectures, small and large group discussions, role-plays, and interactive exercises.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Parents and teachers from schools randomized to this arm will receive services as usual as provided by their schools.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Texas at Austin

Lead Sponsor

Trials

387

Recruited

86,100+

Findings from Research

A study involving 301 female survivors of domestic violence revealed that 62% felt they had to sacrifice too much to achieve safety, indicating significant trade-offs in their safety-seeking efforts.

Many participants (55%) reported that their pursuit of safety led to new, often unexpected problems in other areas of their lives, suggesting that a singular focus on safety can create a zero-sum situation where other critical needs are neglected.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"I have lost everything": Trade-offs of seeking safety from intimate partner violence. Thomas, KA., Goodman, L., Putnins, S.[2022]

A computerized safety decision aid was tested with 90 abused women in shelters, helping them assess their risk for lethal violence and create personalized safety plans, which they found useful and private.

After using the decision aid, women reported feeling more supported in their safety decisions and experienced significantly less decisional conflict, indicating that the tool effectively improved the safety planning process.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Computerized aid improves safety decision process for survivors of intimate partner violence. Glass, N., Eden, KB., Bloom, T., et al.[2021]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The dangerous shortage of domestic violence services. [2009]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An evaluation of interventions to decrease intimate partner violence to pregnant women. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety behaviors of abused women after an intervention during pregnancy. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Where do we go from here? Interim analysis to forge ahead in violence prevention. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Secondary prevention of domestic violence in HMO primary care: evaluation of alternative implementation strategies. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"I have lost everything": Trade-offs of seeking safety from intimate partner violence. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Promoting the safe and strategic use of technology for victims of intimate partner violence: evaluation of the technology safety project. [2018]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Computerized aid improves safety decision process for survivors of intimate partner violence. [2021]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rigorous Research on Existing Child Maltreatment Prevention Programs: Introduction to the Special Section. [2020]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Examining contextual influences on the service needs of homeless and unstably housed domestic violence survivors. [2022]

11. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Needs and preferences for the prevention of intimate partner violence among Hispanics: a community's perspective. [2021]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Community Forum to Assess the Needs and Preferences for Domestic Violence Prevention Targeting Hispanics. [2022]

13. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An innovative approach to serving the needs of IPV survivors: description of a CDC-Funded study examining the Volunteers of America Home Free rent assistance program. [2019]

14. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Call to action: Reducing interpersonal violence across the lifespan. [2009]