Pilots Studies of Familias Unidas in Chile

Introduction: Familias Unidas (FU) is an evidence-based intervention (EBI) found to prevent/reduce drug use and risky sexual behaviors in adolescents, with demonstrated effectiveness in the U.S. To date, few EBIs have been tested in Chile despite the significant need for preventive interventions. Therefore, with the goal of understanding the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of Familias Unidas in a Chilean context, the Fundación San Carlos de Maipo, in collaboration with the University of Miami, has launched a program of research to test this intervention in Chile. Two pilot studies were conducted to culturally adaptat and to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of the adapted intervention within this new cultural context. The current study examines the preliminary efficacy of this intervention in improving family functioning and participant completion of intervention sessions.

Method: A total of 89 families participated across both pilots (42 in pilot 1 and 47 in pilot 2). The intervention was targeted towards 7^th and 8^th grade students from four schools in Chile. Participants were recruited at middle schools through group presentations to engage parents. All enrolled families were offered the intervention, consisting of eight parent group sessions and four family sessions across twelve weeks. All parents and adolescents completed a survey before and after the intervention was completed. The survey included questions related to family functioning (i.e., parent adolescent communication, parental monitoring, positive parenting and parental involvement).

Results: Participants in Familias Unidas completed 76% of family sessions and 56% of group sessions for a combined attendance rate of 66%. Results show that Familias Unidas Chile had an effect on parent adolescent communication at 3 months post-baseline (F[1,48] =11. 90, p=.001). Significant effects were not found for the remaining family functioning indicators.

Conclusions: Overall, findings indicate that it is feasible to deliver Familias Unidas to a Chilean population outside the U.S. Familias Unidas seems promising for engaging Chilean families into an EBI and improving parent-adolescent communication. These two pilot studies of Familias Unidas in Chile, grant us encouraging results in terms of feasibility, acceptability and obtaining positive results. Future studies will include a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of Familias Unidas among this context and with this population. There is a need to bring EBIs to countries like Chile and this program of research has great potential for positively impacting families in Chile.