Evaluation of the teaching recovery techniques community-based intervention for accompanied refugee children experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms (Accompanied refugeeS In Sweden Trial; ASsIST): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

Background Refugee children have often experienced traumas and are at significant risk of developing mental health problems, such as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, which can continue for years after resettlement. The Accompanied refugeeS In Sweden Trial (A...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Filipa Sampaio, Richard Ssegonja, Inna Feldman, Rachel Calam, Georgina Warner, Natalie Durbeej, Raziye Salari, Karin Fängström, Elin Lampa, Zaruhi Baghdasaryan, Fatumo Osman, Sandra Gupta Löfving, Anna Perez Aronsson, Anna Bjärtå, Elisabet Rondung, Anna Leiler, Elisabet Wasteson, Brit Oppedal, Brooks Keeshin, Anna Sarkadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-07-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/7/e035459.full
Description
Summary:Background Refugee children have often experienced traumas and are at significant risk of developing mental health problems, such as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, which can continue for years after resettlement. The Accompanied refugeeS In Sweden Trial (ASsIST) aims to evaluate a community-based intervention, called ‘Teaching Recovery Techniques’ (TRT), for accompanied refugee minors experiencing PTSD symptoms.Methods/design A cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted in which participants will be randomly allocated to one of the two possible arms: the intervention arm (n=113) will be offered the TRT programme and the waitlist-control arm (n=113) will receive services as usual, followed by the TRT programme around 20 weeks later. Outcome data will be collected at three points: pre-intervention (T1), post-intervention (T2; c.8 weeks after randomisation) and follow-up (T3; c.20 weeks after randomisation).Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was granted by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Uppsala (Ref. 2018/382) (24th February 2019). Results will be published in scientific journals.Trial registration details ISRCTN17754931. Prospectively registered on 4th June 2019.
ISSN:2044-6055