A School-based Intervention Project to Increase Completion of Upper Secondary School in Norway

COMPLETE - a School-based Intervention Project to Improve Psychosocial Learning Environments and Increase Completion of Upper Secondary School in Norway: a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Drop out from upper secondary school represents a risk for the future health and wellbeing of young people. Strengthening of psychosocial aspects of the learning environment may be an effective strategy to promote completion of upper secondary school. The COMPLETE study is a school based cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating two school-based interventions, namely the Dream School Program (DSP) and the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) among 1st grade upper secondary school students in four counties in Norway. The interventions aim to improve psychosocial learning environments and subsequently school achievements and decrease drop-out and absence.

Specifically, the COMPLETE study will

1. Evaluate whether the DSP alone

   1. increases completion
   2. increases presence
   3. improves school achievements
   4. improves mental health and wellbeing

2. Evaluate whether the DSP and the MHST combined

   1. increase completion
   2. increase presence
   3. improve school achievements
   4. improve mental health and wellbeing

   The COMPLETE study will also evaluate the effect of the DSP and MHST combined and the DSP alone against secondary outcomes of school satisfaction and loneliness.

3. Evaluate through a process evaluation whether the interventions were implemented in line with guidelines for each of the interventions, and whether the degree of program fidelity has influenced the effect of the interventions on the primary and secondary outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• School inclusion criteria: not been or currently involved in either of the Dream School Program or the Mental Health Support Team or similar programs or research projects
• Student inclusion criteria: student enrolled at any of the included schools.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Schools previously or currently involved in either of the Dream School Program or the Mental Health Support Team or similar programs or research projects.
• Student exclusion criteria: students with special needs or who are illiterate in Norwegian are excluded from the survey assessment, but included in the interventions.