Table 3 JJ-TRIALS research questions and hypotheses
Primary research question | Corresponding hypotheses |
|---|---|
1. Does the Core and/or Enhanced intervention reduce unmet need by increasing service cascade retention related to screening, assessment, treatment initiation, engagement and continuing care? | H1: Compared to baseline period, the percentage of youth retained in the service cascade will increase during the experiment period (in terms of % screened, % assessed, % in need, % referred, % initiated, % engaged, and % continuing care). |
2. Does the addition of the Enhanced intervention components further increase the percentage of youth retained in the service cascade relative to the Core components? | H2: Compared to the Core intervention sites, the Enhanced Intervention sites will have greater improvements (relative to baseline) during the experiment period in their percentage of youth retained in the service cascade (in terms of % screened, % assessed, % in need, % referred, % initiated, % engaged, and % continuing care). |
3. Does the addition of the Enhanced intervention components improve service quality relative to Core sites? | H3: Compared to the Core intervention sites, the Enhanced intervention sites will have greater improvements (relative to baseline) during the experiment period in service quality in terms of: |
a) timing (e.g., shortened length of time between arrest and screen), | |
b) content (e.g., increased use of EBP to screen), or | |
c) procedure (e.g., increased number of staff trained on using an EBP screener). | |
(NOTE: H3b & H3c are largely descriptive and exploratory.) | |
4. Do staff perceptions of the value of best practices increase over time, and are increases more pronounced in enhanced sites? [staff within sites] | H4: |
a) Relative to Staff at the Core sites, staff at Enhanced sites will show a greater increase between baseline and end of experimental period in the perceived “value” and reported use of evidence-based substance use treatment services along the Cascade. | |
b) Staff in both Core and Enhanced sites will show an increase between baseline and end of core support period in the perceived “value” of HIV/STI prevention, testing, and treatment services. | |
c) Staff in both Core and Enhanced sites will show an increase between baseline and end of core support period in the perceived “value” of evidence-based substance use prevention services. |