Title
A cluster randomised controlled trial evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis of the Roots of Empathy schools-based programme for improving social and emotional wellbeing outcomes among 8-9 year olds in Northern Ireland.

Research team
Centre for Effective Education, QUB
Professor Paul Connolly (PI), Dr Sarah Miller (Trial Manager), Ms Aideen Gildea

Centre of Excellence for Public Health, QUB
Professor Frank Kee

School of Psychology, QUB
Dr Harry Rafferty

Department of Health Sciences, University of York
Professor Martin Bland

Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Dr Elisabeth Fenwick

Timescale
September 2011 - December 2015.

Funder
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)

Aims and objectives
To evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the Roots of Empathy Programme on social and emotional wellbeing outcomes of children aged 8-9 years old.

Methodology
The evaluation is a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) with a qualitative process evaluation being conducted alongside it.

74 primary schools from across Northern Ireland originally agreed to take part in the evaluation. Half of all the schools were randomly allocated to the intervention group and will deliver the ROE programme to their Year 5 pupils between October 2011 and June 2012. The remaining schools were allocated to the control group and will not deliver the ROE programme during this period. 

All participating Year 5 children (aged 8-9 years old) will complete carefully chosen measures of social, emotional and behavioural development before the programme starts in October 2011 (pre-test) and again at the end of the programme in May 2012 (post-test). Teacher and parent ratings of children’s behaviour will also be collected. Follow up data on outcomes will be collected every June for a further three years until children are aged 12 to determine the duration of the impact of the programme. 

The process evaluation will be conducted in six case study schools and will aim to:
1. Examine the extent to which the manual specifications are applied in practice across the six school sites, the extent and reasons for variation.
2. Identify factors that support or hinder implementation and participant responsiveness.
3. If effective, to identify how the programme exerts its influence.

Data will be collected via interviews and focus groups with key actors.

Outputs
An interim report will be available to the funders in December 2012.  The study is due to be completed in December 2015 with the final report available after this time.

Trial registration
This study is registered with Current Controlled Trials (registration number: ISRCTN07540423).  Please see http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN07540423