Browsing by Autor "Ricardo Araya"

Now showing 1 - 10 of 10

Acceptability and feasibility of a universal online preventive intervention for depression and anxiety among university students: protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial.
(2025) Jorge Gaete; Daniel Núñez; Valentina Romo; Saray Ramírez; Fabián Andrés Barrera; Ricardo Araya
<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background</bold>. The mental health of university students is a global concern, with high rates of depression, anxiety, and stress significantly impacting their well-being and academic performance. Several studies reveal high prevalence rates, highlighting the need for effective prevention strategies. Evidence shows that digital interventions incorporating mindfulness, emotional regulation, and cognitive-behavioral techniques can reduce symptoms of mental illness. However, such programs are scarce in Latin America. This study proposes developing and evaluating "CUIDATE," a brief online universal preventive intervention targeting depression and anxiety among university students, focusing on acceptability, feasibility, and potential improvements in mental health and quality of life. <bold>Methods:</bold>This is a pilot randomized controlled trial, parallel-group type, where students using CUIDATE, a 6-session online self-guided universal preventive intervention, are compared to students doing regular academic work. 50 students in a private university in Santiago, Chile, are expected to be recruited and randomized with 1:1 allocation. Assessments of acceptability and feasibility during the whole project will be collected at the end of the intervention. Measurements of depression and anxiety symptoms, quality of life, and several mindfulness, emotional regulation, and cognitive-behavioral skills will be conducted among students of both groups at baseline, post-intervention and 12-week follow-up. <bold>Discussion. </bold>This pilot Randomized Controlled Trial aims to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of "CUIDATE," a self-guided online intervention promoting cognitive-behavioral therapy skills, emotion regulation, and a healthy lifestyle to prevent depression and anxiety. Unlike existing programs, often limited to developed countries, CUIDATE is designed for accessibility and cost-effectiveness, using the widely adopted Canvas platform to engage university students. While challenges like recruitment and task adherence are anticipated, proactive measures, including student leaders’ network support, will mitigate these risks. The study's findings will produce relevant information about these novel designs and may help guide future studies, such as a randomized controlled trial on a large scale. <bold>Trial registration:</bold> Clinical Trials NCT06419868, May 14. 2024 [https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06419868]
Acceptability, feasibility and fidelity of the culturally adapted version of Unplugged (“Yo Se Lo Que Quiero”), a substance use preventive program among adolescents in Chile: a pilot randomized controlled study
(2024) Gabriel Salgado; Jorge Gaete; Sofía Gana; Daniela Valenzuela; Ricardo Araya
<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Introduction.</bold> The consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana is a public health problem that impacts the cognitive, social, and emotional development of adolescents. Prevention strategies such as the "Unplugged" program are effective in delaying the progression of daily smoking and episodes of drunkenness among adolescents. "Yo Se Lo Que Quiero" (YSLQQ) corresponds to the adaptation of this program to the Chilean context. This study assesses the acceptability and feasibility of implementing this program to the local reality. <bold>Material and methods</bold>. This was a cluster-randomized controlled pilot study conducted on six public schools. All consented students attending 6th, 7<sup>th</sup>, and 8th grades (n = 1,180) participated in the study. The schools were randomly assigned to one of two conditions in a 1:1 ratio: 1) the "YSLQQ" intervention group (n = 526), and 2) the Control group (n = 654). The program consisted of a 12-hour class-based curriculum based on a comprehensive social-inﬂuence approach delivered by a trained facilitator. The acceptability and feasibility were assessed in the intervention group at the end of the intervention using questionnaires answered by students and facilitators. The quality and fidelity of the program were evaluated during the implementation using self-ported surveys answered by the facilitators and the assessment of video-recorded sessions rated by external observers. Finally, a pre-test and a post-test survey assessing past and current substance use and risk and protective factors were conducted before and immediately after the program's implementation. <bold>Results</bold>. A high proportion of students (49.6%) liked the sessions. 79.2% reported that the YSLQQ helped them learn about the dangers of drugs, while 65.8% reported having more skills to avoid drug use in the future. Regarding students' satisfaction with YSLQQ, 62.9% reported being happy or very happy with the program. Facilitators reported implementing the intervention according to the manual in 73.9% of sessions. Regarding drug use, students who participated in the intervention groups reported a significant reduction in drunkenness in the last year and last 30-day prevalence and also a significant reduction in a lifetime and 30-day prevalence of cannabis use when compared with those students in the control group. <bold>Conclusions.</bold> Our results suggest that YSLQQ has adequate acceptability and feasibility to be implemented in the Chilean context, and there were promising results in reducing drunkenness and cannabis use. Future research should confirm these results in a larger RCT study. <bold>Trial registration:</bold> NCT04566627
Acceptability, feasibility, fidelity and quality implementation of the culturally adapted version of The Social Competence Promotion Program among Young Adolescents (“Mi Mejor Plan”) to prevent substance use among adolescents in Chile: a pilot randomized control study
(2025) Saray Ramírez; Natalia Ríos; Cristian A. Rojas‐Barahona; Marcela Cárcamo; Alejandro Sepúlveda-Peñaloza; Ricardo Araya; Jorge Gaete
<title>Abstract</title> Introduction. Substance use among adolescents is a public health problem. We culturally adapted The Social Competence Promotion Program for Young Adolescents (SCPP-YA) program to the school context in Chile (henceforth “Mi Mejor Plan or MMP”) and assessed the acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, and quality of the implementation among 6<sup>th</sup> graders. We also explored the efficacy of the program in improving individual protective factors and reducing risk factors and substance use. Methods. Cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in Chile. The schools were randomly assigned to one of two conditions in a 1:1 ratio: 1) the "MMP" intervention group, and 2) the Control group. The program consisted of a 16-hour class-based curriculum promoting social problem-solving skills delivered by a trained facilitator. Primary outcomes were acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, and quality of the implementation using detailed reports of facilitators and from observers of the performance of the facilitators in vivo. Additionally, we explored the efficacy of the intervention on secondary outcomes: 30-day prevalence of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use and individual risk and protective factors promoted by MMP. We performed an intention-to-treat analysis using mixed models, taking into account the hierarchical nature of the data. Results. 765 6th graders from 11 schools were enrolled (one school dropped out after the randomization); 608 were analyzed at baseline, and 538 were analyzed post-intervention. 52.5% were male, and the average age was 11.3 in both groups. All 16 sessions were implemented, and students’ attendance at each session ranged from 83.8% to 92.4%. The program was generally well-received, with up to 91.3% of students rating acceptability positively. Facilitators and observers reported high adherence to the contents of the program in most sessions. Protective factors, such as negative beliefs about tobacco and alcohol, increased significantly in the IG. Still, there were no significant changes in substance use, risk factors, emotion regulation, or school membership. Conclusions. The MMP program was well accepted, and we achieved high levels of implementation and fidelity. The program improved some individual protective factors, such as negative beliefs about tobacco and alcohol, with changes in substance use among adolescents. Trial registration. Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT04236947.
Bullying in Chile: prevalence and associated factors
(2021) Daniela Valenzuela; Marcela Cárcamo; Saray Ramírez; Cristian A. Rojas‐Barahona; Ricardo Araya; Jorge Gaete
Co-designing and piloting a mental health intervention among young adults in post-secondary education in post-conflict areas in Colombia: A study protocol
(Research Square (United States), 2023) Annie Zimmerman; María Camila García Durán; Ricardo Araya; Mauricio Avendaño; Philipp Hessel; Yadira Díaz; Omar Dario Peña Niño; Sara Donetto; Martha Escobar Lux; Fabio Idrobo
Abstract Purpose Colombia has endured more than five decades of internal armed conflict, which led to substantial costs for human capital and mental health. There is currently little evidence about the impact of incorporating a mental health intervention within an existing public cash transfer programme to address poverty, and this project aims to develop and pilot a mental health support intervention embedded within the human capital programme to achieve better outcomes among beneficiaries, especially those displaced by conflict and the most socioeconomically vulnerable. Methods The study will consist of three phases: semi-structured one-to-one interviews, co-design and adaptations of the proposed intervention with participants and pilot of the digital intervention based on cognitive behavioural therapy and transdiagnostic techniques. to determine its feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, and usefulness in 'real settings'. Results will inform if the intervention improves clinical, educational and employment prospects among those who use it. Results Knowledge will be generated on whether the mental health intervention could potentially improve young people's mental health and human capital in conflict-affected areas? We will evaluate of the impact of potential mental health improvements on human capital outcomes, including educational and employment outcomes. Conclusion Findings will help to make conclusions about the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, and it will assess its effectiveness to improve the mental health and human capital outcomes of beneficiaries. This will enable the identification of strategies to address mental health problems among socioeconomically vulnerable young people that can be adapted to different contexts in in low and middle-income countries.
Development, usability, and feasibility pilot cluster randomized controlled study of a videogame aiming to stimulate cognitive and non-cognitive skills among low-income preschoolers in Santiago, Chile
(2025) Jorge Gaete; Natalia Ríos; Cristian A. Rojas‐Barahona; Saray Ramírez; Ricardo Araya
<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background</bold>. Early childhood is a crucial period for mental health, with many preschoolers experiencing emotional and behavioral issues. Early interventions targeting executive functions and socio-emotional skills are essential. Digital tools, such as tablets, offer promising solutions, despite limited research. This study aims to develop and test a video game to enhance these skills in vulnerable preschoolers, assessing its feasibility, engagement, and impact. <bold>Methods</bold>. Cluster Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Eight schools were randomly allocated to the Intervention group (Japi 1.0) and the Control group in a 1:1 ratio. A video game was developed by the research team, aiming to stimulate cognitive and non-cognitive skills. We registered problems in the functionality of the video game while implementing it and student engagement and classroom climate. Additionally, we assessed before and after the intervention cognitive and non-cognitive skills among children's psychological functioning using the parental reports over the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. <bold>Results</bold>. Before implementing Japi 1.0 in the classroom, the most frequent functional problems detected by the research team were audio volume variations, abrupt changes in activity, and game freezing. Once corrected, during the implementation of an improved version, game freezing and correct answers registered as incorrect were the most frequent problems. Additionally, 26.6% of students had data not recorded on the server. The engagement with the game was high, and there were very few behavioral problems during the implementation. Most of the secondary outcomes were improved after the intervention, but no significant changes were found when compared with the control group. <bold>Conclusions</bold>. The pilot study demonstrated high student engagement and a positive classroom climate during the implementation of Japi 1.0. While initial functionality issues were identified and corrected, some technical problems persisted, including game freezing and data loss. Although improvements in cognitive and non-cognitive skills were observed post-intervention, no significant differences were found compared to the control group. These findings highlight the feasibility of using digital interventions in preschool settings but underscore the need for further refinement and a larger trial to assess the game’s full impact. <bold>Trial registration:</bold> Clinical Trials NCT07048119, February 26th, 2025. [https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07048119]
Equidad en salud
(2011) Pedro Zitko Melo; Ricardo Araya; Báltica Cabieses; Paula Moscoso Aguayo; Liliana Seyler Cabeza; Christina Lindemann Tappert; Kris Bastías Olivares; Francisca Figueroa Cendoya; María Carolina Illanes Neira; Cristián Pavlovic Jeldres
•Acceso a diagnóstico y tratamiento para depresión según posición social en países seleccionados de Latinoamérica •Análisis narrativo de experiencias de chilenos exiliados políticos con discapacidad física en Malmö, Suecia •Caracterización y comparación de puérperas peruanas y chilenas atendidas en el Hospital San José •Conocimientos y prácticas de estudiantes de 7º y 8º básico, de ambos sexos, de Curacaví •Desarrollo económico y mortalidad prematura, Chile, 1994-2003 •Determinación nacional del Índice Significante de Caries (SIC) en adolescentes de 12 años, Chile 2010 •Diagnóstico de salud bucal en niños 2 y 4 años asistentes a la educación preescolar, zonas norte y centro •El GES promueve la equidad en el tratamiento del gran quemado de la tercera edad •Evaluación del nivel de conocimiento en salud bucal de la comunidad educativa preescolar •Factores psicosociales y culturales que inciden en embarazo adolescente en niñas menores de 15 años •Índice Significante de Caries en niños de 6 años, Chile 2010 •La mortalidad por cáncer del cuello uterino en Río de Janeiro: Estudio ecológico •Nivel de desarrollo psicomotor y su relación con el score de riesgo DSM •Perfil en interconsultas dermatológicas del consultorio Padre Esteban Gumucio Vives de Santiago de Chile, 2010 •Prevalencia caries, pérdida de dientes, necesidad de tratamiento en adultos mapuche - huilliches de Isla Huapi •Recursos humanos odontológicos para tratamiento de caries en adolescentes de 12 años, Chile 2010 •Retraso del diagnóstico de tuberculosis en la percepción de los representantes de ONG en Río de Janeiro •Rol de la escuela en promoción de salud y reducción de vulnerabilidad social en salud •Tendencia de las tasas de mortalidad fetal e infantil y sus componentes, Chile 1996- 2006 •Implementación de un mamógrafo móvil para la Región de los Ríos
Influencia de factores escolares contextuales en el consumo de tabaco, alcohol y marihuana en adolescentes chilenos: un studio multinivel
(2014) Jorge Gaete; Catalina Ortúzar; Fernanda Villarreal; Alan Montgomery; Ricardo Araya
Validation of the Spanish version of the Sense of Social and Academic Fit (SSF) Scale in Chilean undergraduate students and its association with academic, psychological, and socio- demographic variables
(Research Square (United States), 2024) Jorge Gaete; Bernardita Tornero; Marcela Cárcamo; Jorge Tricio; Cristian A. Rojas‐Barahona; Ricardo Araya
<title>Abstract</title> The global expansion of higher education has led to an increased enrollment of first-generation students, presenting opportunities and challenges for institutions. Despite efforts to support these students, they often face lower graduation rates and higher dropout rates. Among the factors influencing student success, the sense of belonging has emerged as a critical determinant. This study reports the validation of the Spanish version of the Sense of Social and Academic Fit (SSF) scale in the context of a private university in Santiago, Chile, with a predominantly first-year student sample. The psychometric evaluations of the scale included: (i) factor structure, (ii) internal consistency, and (iii) association with several individual (e.g., history of academic achievement in high school, grit, self-control, motives for attending college) and contextual factors (e.g., parents´ education background, attendance to private, subsidized and state schools, financing higher education). Results indicated a multifactor structure, with three underlying factors identified as a Sense of belonging, a Sense of educational alienation, and a Sense of affinity. Internal consistency for all subscales and the total scale was good. Association analyses found that private school dependency was positively associated with the SSF total score, and the extrinsic self-oriented motives subscale was negatively associated with the SSF total score. This study contributes to the literature by examining the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the SSF scale in a Latin American context.
Validation of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS) among early adolescents in Chile
(2021) Saray Ramírez; Sofía Gana; Daniela Valenzuela; Ricardo Araya; Jorge Gaete