Core components and strategies of effective family-based intervention to prevent multiple risk behaviors of female adolescents: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of evidence in relation to core components and strategies of effective family-based intervention to prevent multiple risk behaviors (i.e., alcohol use, smoking, and risky sexual behavior) among female adolescents. Introduction: Multiple Risk Behaviors (MRB) typically emerge during adolescents. In response, researchers and practitioners have been devoted to identifying effective interventions. However, many existing interventions focus on single risk behaviors but we know that risk behaviors cluster together. Less is known about the core components and strategies of effective family-based intervention for the prevention of multiple risk behaviors in female adolescents. Inclusion criteria: Studies must evaluate the effectiveness of family-based interventions directly on female adolescents aged 13 to 17 years, and measure risk behavior outcomes quantitatively. The interventions must include effectiveness data for at least two of the following risk behaviors as outcomes: alcohol use, smoking, and sexual behavior. Intervention studies will be including if effectiveness data is available for two or more outcomes across multiple publications. We will exclude intervention studies that have focused on a single risk behavior or that do not include outcomes specifically for female adolescents (e.g., report only overall rates or do not distinguish between male and female adolescents within a mixed sample). Additionally, literature on family-based intervention for the substance treatment and therapy will be excluded.

Methods: Multiple databases will be searched, including PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and CINHAL using keywords, indexed terms, and phrases, for the following concepts: family-based intervention, female adolescents, and multiple risk behaviors. Search will be conducted from the date of inception to the end of the last full calendar year (December 2023). We also restricted the language of studies to English. Two reviewers will independently assess eligibility criteria for each study and use a standardized charting form to extract relevant data. Each included study will be rated using a modified version of the JBL Levels of Evidence framework. Details on the core components and strategies of effectiveness of family-based intervention in each included study will be extracted, and results will be presented in tables and diagrams.