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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to evaluate a group-based violence prevention program called Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands) for elementary school students in Honduras. It will explore how the program, involving parents, teachers, and students, impacts behavior and reduces violence. The trial will include two groups: one receiving the new program and the other continuing with usual school services. Ideal participants are students in grades 3-5, along with their parents and teachers, from schools in or near Tegucigalpa that have not used this program before.

As an unphased trial, this study offers participants a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative educational research that could positively impact school communities.

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 the Miles de Manos program is safe for elementary school students?

Past studies have described the Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands) program as a community-based initiative using proven methods. This program helps teachers and parents enhance their communication and teaching skills. Reports have not indicated any negative effects or safety issues, suggesting it is generally well-received. The program includes activities like discussions and role-playing, which are typically safe. As a behavioral program rather than a medical treatment, it carries very low safety risks. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Miles de Manos program for domestic violence prevention because it takes a comprehensive, community-based approach. Unlike typical interventions that may focus solely on individuals, this program involves parents, teachers, and school administrators working together. It combines cognitive-behavioral skills training with interactive sessions that promote effective communication, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. This collaborative and holistic strategy aims to create a supportive network, potentially offering more sustainable and widespread impact in preventing youth violence compared to traditional methods.

What evidence suggests that the Miles de Manos program is effective for violence prevention?

Research shows that the Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands) program, which participants in this trial may receive, aims to prevent youth violence by helping parents and teachers manage behavior more effectively. The program teaches adults skills for clear communication, setting expectations, and solving problems. Studies have found that these skills can improve how adults supervise, monitor, and help children manage their emotions. This approach has been linked to fewer behavior problems in students. The program includes activities such as role-playing and group discussions to actively involve participants and enhance these positive outcomes. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

Citations

1. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10461071

Project Details To examine the effectiveness of a culturally specified youth violence prevention program on improving effective parent and teacher behavior management ...

2. crci.education.utexas.edu crci.education.utexas.edu/project/miles-de-manos/

Miles de Manos – Center for Research to Community Impact This study examines the impact of Miles de Manos ( “Thousands of Hands”), a ... youth violence prevention intervention, on youth violence in Honduras.

3. withpower.com withpower.com/clinical-trials/for-domestic-violence

Top Domestic Violence Clinical Trials | Power Miles de Manos Program for Domestic Violence Prevention. Austin, Texas ... Alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse and violence in families are co-occurring ...

4. education.utexas.edu education.utexas.edu/news/2020/12/04/miles-de-manos-thousands-hands-subject-new-nih-grant-college-education/

Miles de Manos / Thousands of Hands is Subject of a New ... Violence is the third leading cause of death among young people in the U.S., and its effects ripple through lives long after the initial violent ...

5. go.drugbank.com go.drugbank.com/conditions/DBCOND0031596

Violence (DBCOND0031596) A Randomized Controlled Trial of Miles de Manos (Thousands of Hands), No drug ... Evaluation of Violence Prevention Strategies to Prevent and Reduce Community ...

6. praeventionstag.de praeventionstag.de/dokumentation/download.cms?id=2417&datei=978-3-942865-55-5-GIZ-2417.pdf

Violence prevention initiatives in international development ... The. Miles de Manos (English: Thousands of Hands) method aims at strengthening the educational and communicative skills of teachers and parents and their ...

7. documents.worldbank.org documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/302101604334119957/pdf/Honduras-Safer-Municipalities-Project.pdf

HN Safer Municipalities Project families (Mile de Manos and Familias Fuertes), at-risk youth ... violence prevention using evidence, data, and participatory approaches.