Skills for Preventing Injury in Youth (SPIY)

Initiative Description: Skills for Preventing Injury in Youth (SPIY) , a school-based intervention to reduce risk-taking and associated injuries. The program was implemented into the school curriculum (Year 9 Health studies) by the classroom teacher. It was delivered once per week over 8 weeks with lessons of 50 minutes duration. Typically, each lesson included the presentation of a short risk-taking and injury scenario, an introduction to first aid for the resulting injury in the scenarios, and cognitive-behavioral activities for preventing the risk-taking behavior including through protecting friends.

Study Results: Decreased risk-taking behaviors.

Reference: Buckley, L., Sheehan, M., & Shochet, I. (2010). Short-term evaluation of a school-based adolescent injury prevention program: Determining positive effects or iatrogenic outcomes. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 30(6), 834–853. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431609361201

Level of Evidence: Good