The Dartmouth Prevention Project is a 5-year, randomized, controlled study of a pediatric office-based alcohol and tobacco use prevention program for families of 5th and 6th graders. Over 18 months 12 practices recruited 3500 families into the study. Practices delivered the intervention messages at the initial well-visit and each subsequent visit. The coordinating center generated supplemental mailings and managed all data collection.
The coordinating center provided participating practices with a variety of tools for integrating research activities into their office culture. Explicit research protocols were adapted into existing office systems. Practices were visited monthly during the recruitment phase and then quarterly. Chart audits were conducted at each site visit and rates of recruitment and of documentation were reported in the staff newsletter. Each quarter the site with the best rate of documentation was recognized. Annual stipends were offered to reimburse staff time, or to purchase educational materials .
The success of this collaboration is reflected in a recruitment rate of 88%, annual survey response rates of about 90% and documentation rates as high as 90%. It is possible to recruit and follow a large family cohort through a primary care office setting. The 12 practices are located in rural and medium size urban areas. We feel this system could be adapted to most office settings, and will be adapting it next to an urban, multi-ethnic neighborhood health care system.
Learning Objectives: The presentation will enable participants to: 1. Recognize the possibilities for participating in research projects with health care providers 2. Identify specific tools and materials which will integrate with a health care office system to enable the practitioners to effectively deliver an intervention message 3.Develop a method to monitor and measure delivery of the intervention. The data can then be used to determine the intervention's effect
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.