On Top of Everything: a study protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial testing a teacher training programme to teach mindfulness among students in Danish upper secondary schools and schools of health and social care.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a teacher-led mindfulness program on students' mental well-being in Danish upper secondary schools and schools of health and social care.
Results Summary
The study will assess changes in mental well-being using the SWEMWBS scale at 3 and 6 months, with additional focus on a vulnerable subgroup and qualitative analysis of teacher implementation barriers and facilitators. Results are pending as the trial is ongoing.
Population
Students aged 16-24 years in Danish upper secondary schools and schools of health and social care (approximately 1100 students).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
6 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
teacher training programme to teach mindfulness as part of regular classroom teaching | neutral | students' self-reported mental well-being | students in Danish upper secondary schools and schools of health and social care | - | evaluate the effectiveness | #1 |
teacher training programme to teach mindfulness as part of regular classroom teaching | neutral | mental health | vulnerable subgroup (the 15% with the lowest SWEMWBS score) | - | evaluate the effectiveness | #2 |
teacher training programme to teach mindfulness as part of regular classroom teaching | neutral | mental health | total population of students | - | evaluate the effectiveness | #3 |
multi-level intervention consisting of (a) a teacher training programme and (b) a mindfulness programme delivered to students | neutral | mental health | Danish young people enrolled in education | - | estimate the effectiveness | #4 |
BACKGROUND: Mental health is decreasing among young people in Denmark. Our primary aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of a teacher training programme to teach mindfulness as part of regular classroom teaching in Danish upper secondary schools and schools of health and social care on students' self-reported mental well-being 6 months from baseline. Secondary aims are (1) to evaluate the effectiveness in a vulnerable subgroup as well as in the total population of students 3 and 6 months from baseline using other outcome measures on mental health and (2) to investigate the facilitators and barriers among teachers to implement mindfulness in schools. METHODS: This pragmatic cluster-randomised two-arm superiority trial includes 30 upper secondary schools, 13 schools of health and social care, 76 teachers, and approximately 1100 students aged 16 to 24 years. Our intervention is multi-level and consists of (a) a teacher training programme and (b) a mindfulness programme delivered to students. Students in control schools receive education as usual. Our primary study population is the total population of students. The primary outcome is changes in the short version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS). We also evaluate the effectiveness in a vulnerable subgroup (the 15% with the lowest SWEMWBS score), as well as in the total population of students 3 and 6 months from baseline using other outcome measures on mental health. Data will be analysed using repeated measurement models taking clusters into account. Facilitators and barriers among teachers to implement mindfulness in schools will be investigated through qualitative focus group interviews. DISCUSSION: The trial will estimate the effectiveness of a population-based strategy on mental health in Danish young people enrolled in education. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04610333 . Registered on October 10 2020.