Perceived Changes Following Participation in a Family Skills Training Program to Prevent Drug Use: A Qualitative Study in Panama

Introduction: Family skills training programs have been recognized as effective strategies for preventing drug use in teenagers. However, recent systematic reviews of the literature suggest a scarcity of research about their effectiveness and fit in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs).  Families in LMICs are surrounded by stressors such as urban violence which are associated with a higher likelihood of difficulties.  In between 2010 and 2011, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) implemented the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) 10-14 in Panama as a strategy to prevent drug use.  The program was delivered to 120 families.  No formal trial or evaluation took place during implementation, so we conducted a qualitative study in 2013 in order to assess retrospectively perceived changes from parents’ perspective.

Method: Thirty parents who took part in the program were interviewed up to 36 months after participation.   The interview schedule was semi-structured and included questions around 1) overall parenting experience, 2) changes made after the program, and 3) current parenting experience.  Thematic analysis was carried out taking a participant-driven inductive stance.  Parents’ narratives were analyzed to uncover perceptions and beliefs about changes following participation in the program. Negative case analysis was conducted and contradictions between participants were identified, coded and analyzed.

Results: An exploration of parents’ narratives suggested that, after the program, they observed changes in themselves as parents, in their children, in the interaction between the two of them, and in their functioning as a couple. Perceived changes centered on communication, limits, obedience, relationship roles, emotional regulation and social development. For example, parents reported being able to control their emotions in a healthier manner, reducing the use of shouting and setting limits in a more effective way.

Conclusion:  This study offers some knowledge of the new skills parents acquire after taking part in a family skills training program and the changes they perceived in their children and within their families. Parents appeared to hold positive views about the program. This study offers a methodology which can be used when trials are not feasible in order to explore appropriateness of interventions and changes from participants’ own perspective.  It is also one of the few examples of research on family skills training program in a LMIC.