Viabilidade do Strengthening Families Program para Famílias Brasileiras: Um Estudo com Métodos Mistos

The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility (limited effectiveness, acceptability and practicality) of the Strengthening Families Program, a universal preventive intervention, for Brazilian families. A pre-experimental study was carried out, with pre-test, post-test, 6- and 10-12-month follow-ups. 74 adolescents and their parents participated. Scales on academic, parenting, and health outcomes were applied to adolescents at the four assessment times. Direct observation of implementation fidelity and families engagement in the intervention and telephone interviews with facilitators were used to investigate acceptability and practicality. The results show significant increase in parental supervision and learning self-efficacy. High levels of fidelity and parent/guardian engagement as well as moderate levels of adolescent engagement were found. The facilitators found the intervention had acceptable goals, but procedures excessively structured and unsuitable for families with low educational level. Practical implications are discussed.Este estudo teve por objetivo examinar a viabilidade (efetividade limitada, aceitabilidade e praticidade) do Strengthening Families Program, uma intervenção preventiva universal, para famílias brasileiras. Conduziu-se um estudo pré-experimental, com pré-teste, pós-teste, 6 e 10-12 meses de follow-up. Participaram 74 adolescentes e seus pais. Escalas sobre desfechos acadêmicos, parentais e saúde foram aplicadas nos adolescentes nos quatro tempos de avaliação. Observação direta da fidelidade da implementação e do engajamento familiar na intervenção e entrevistas por telefone com facilitadores foram usadas para investigar aceitabilidade e praticidade. Identificou-se aumento significativo em supervisão parental e autoeficácia para a aprendizagem. Altos níveis de fidelidade e engajamento parental foram encontrados, bem como engajamento moderado dos adolescentes. Os facilitadores consideraram a intervenção aceitável em suas metas, mas com procedimentos excessivamente estruturados e inadequados para famílias com baixo grau de instrução. Implicações práticas são discutidas

Needs assessment for cultural adaptation of Strengthening Families Program (SFP 10-14-UK) in Brazil

This study sought to evaluate the cultural adequacy of materials and procedures of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP 10-14-UK) and to identify requirements for its cultural adaptation to Brazilian families. The descriptive study had 33 informants, including external observers, managers, multipliers, facilitators, adolescents, and parents. The data were collected at a pilot application in the Federal District. Direct observation was applied to four intervention groups, with seven meetings of 150 min for families, parents/guardians and adolescents, and mixed nominal groups at the end of the interventions. The results, analyzed through content analysis and descriptive statistics, provided evidence that SFP was perceived as sufficiently appealing, culturally relevant, and partially clear. Recommendations for cultural adaptation of linguistic aspects of the materials and procedures were made, considering the cultural and educational differences of the participant families. Focus on implementation quality, including infrastructure, families’ mobilization and continuous planning, was recommended. Replication studies in other Brazilian regions and analyses of contextual and political dimensions are suggested

Barriers and facilitators in the Strengthening Families Program (SFP 10–14) implementation process in northeast Brazil : a retrospective qualitative study

This study analyzed contextual barriers and facilitators in the implementation of Strengthening Families Program (SFP 10–14), Brazilian version, a family-based preventive program focused on the prevention of risk behaviors for adolescent health. SFP 10–14 was implemented between 2016 and 2017 for socioeconomically vulnerable families in four Northeast Brazilian states as a tool of the National Drug Policy. A retrospective qualitative study was carried out in which 26 implementation agents participated. Data from 16 individual interviews and two group interviews were analyzed through content analysis. The most recurrent barriers were the group facilitators’ working conditions, weak municipal administration, precarious infrastructure, inadequate group facilitator training methodologies, low adherence of managers and professionals, and funding scarcity. The conditions highlighted as favorable to the implementation were proper intersectoral coordination, engagement of involved actors, awareness of public agency administrators, municipal management efficacy, and efficient family recruitment strategies. Favorable political contexts, engagement of implementation agents, and intersectoral implementation strategies were identified as central to the success of the implementation of SFP 10–14, especially in the adoption of the intervention, community mobilization, and intervention delivery stages. Further studies should combine contexts, mechanisms, and results for a broad understanding of the effectiveness of this intervention in the public sector

Exploring the short-term effects of the strengthening families program on Brazilian adolescents: A pre-experimental study

Substance abuse and violence are among the primary health concerns regarding Brazilian adolescents. This study sought to explore the short-term effects of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP 10-14), a preventive program for families with adolescents, adapted to Brazil. A pre-experimental design was used, with a pretest and 10-12-month follow-up evaluation. A qualitative study was carried out using in-depth interviews held one to three months after the intervention to examine the use of skills learned. The sample included 126 adolescents (pre-test and follow-up comparison) and 23 adolescents (interviews) between 10 and 14 years of age from low-income families residing in northeastern Brazil. The comparison between pretest and follow-up showed an increase in learning self-efficacy and school absence without parental permission. Null effects were found on the consumption of alcohol in the last month; episodes of binge drinking in the last month; antisocial behavior; parenting practices regarding emotional support factors, intrusiveness, and behavior supervision; future time perspective; doing homework; grade repetition; school grades; school dropout; and satisfaction with one's relationship with school. The majority of the interviewed adolescents reported applying the learned skills during family interaction and with friends. Future studies should examine the contexts and mechanisms linked to such mixed results