PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

Promote the provision of mental health services and psychosocial support to the population, affected by the military conflict, by developing and researching the effectiveness of psychological intervention, aimed at solving problems caused by alcohol abuse and psychological problems (anxiety symptoms, depression, PTSD).

PARTNERS

The project is financed by the partnership of the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and the Welcome Trust Foundation and is implemented in Ukraine by the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, GO “Words help” jointly with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Also, partner of the project in m. University named after Dnipro. Alfred Nobel.

MAIN DIRECTIONS OF ACTIVITY

1. A review of the scientific literature to identify evidence-based strategies and methods of psychotherapy, related to alcohol abuse, which can be integrated into PM + (approx. WHO intervention problem management plus); conducting quality research in local communities, in order to obtain information specific to the local culture and mentality, necessary for the development of a new psychosocial intervention
2. Adapt the intervention to the local cultural context and study the feasibility, admissibility, perceived efficacy and previous effects of PM + / AUD
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of PM + / AUD using two randomized controlled trials
4. Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of PM + / AUD using two randomized controlled trials
5. Investigate the process of implementing a new psychosocial intervention and identify, describe and explain the mechanisms, which promote or inhibit the introduction and adoption of PM + / AUD as consumers, and service providers
6. Explore the potential for widespread PM implementation + / AUD in Uganda and Ukraine

A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY OF THE CHANGE INTERVENTION IN UKRAINE

(June 2024-December 2025)

What is the purpose of this study?

The purpose of this study is to study that, how best to support men in the conditions of war in Ukraine, who experience high levels of stress and drink too much alcohol. For this, we have developed a new program, which is called CHANGE, which can help people cope with high levels of stress, emotional problems and problematic habits, related to alcohol consumption. Through this study, we would like to find out, does this program help people in similar life circumstances, and identify possible ways to further improve the effectiveness of the program.

Where will the research take place? 

We invite all men in Ukraine, who experience a high level of stress and drink alcohol, chat with us and find out, whether they can participate in the study. All meetings with research assistants and program advisors will be held online.

What will happen, if I participate?

Our project consists of several parts.

1) First, we will ask you to meet online with a research assistant for that, to receive your answers to a short questionnaire. This will help us understand, whether you can participate in this research program. This survey will also help us understand, can our program, which we are developing, be useful for you. If you do not drink alcohol or drink it in excess, our program will not be useful for you. For this reason, we will ask you a few questions about your habits, related to alcohol consumption. Extremely important, that you provide truthful answers to them.

If it becomes clear after conducting the survey, that our program does not meet your needs, we will provide you with information about other services, which will be more helpful, considering your condition.

If we define, that the program may be useful for you, the research assistant will invite you to participate in our study as a participant. If you agree, You will need to answer someone else's question, longer, questionnaire. We will ask you more questions about your experience, drinking habits and various aspects of your mental health and financial situation. It will take about 2 hours and as a thank you for your time you will receive a gift card for 250 hryvnias to a Silpo store or top up a mobile account at 250 UAH.

2) If we define, that the program may be useful for you, then in the future you will have a conversation with a member of the project team about reducing the level of alcohol consumption and you will also receive other additional information. Then you will be randomly assigned to one of two groups - Group 1 or Group 2. This process happens randomly and the result of the distribution cannot be changed.

If you get into the Group 1, You'll just get a letter of recommendation about that, how to reduce the level of alcohol consumption.

If you get into the Group 2, we will invite you to visit every week 90 one-minute online session with a CHANGE counselor over the next six weeks. During these meetings, you will participate in certain activities, get some information and discuss the problems with the consultant, which have been bothering you lately. The consultant will also provide you with materials for practicing useful techniques at home. If you agree, then the program consultant will make an audio recording of some of the sessions. Audio recordings will be used only for that purpose, so that the consultant's supervisor can evaluate, does the consultant implement the program like this, as it is supposed to be.

All these services are provided free of charge. It is important to note, that you will not receive any financial or material compensation for participating in sessions with a consultant.

3) Regardless, whether you will be allocated to the Group 1 or Groups 2, the research assistant will contact you again via 3 months after the initial meeting, to conduct a repeat survey and learn about the progress of your affairs and your current status. During this survey, the research assistant will ask you many of the same questions, as during the first survey. The repeated survey will take about 2 hours. As a thank you for your time, you will receive a gift card for 250 hryvnias to a Silpo store or top up a mobile account at 250 UAH.

4) After completing your participation in the program, a member of the research team may invite you to an interview, to learn about your experience and your impressions of participating in the program. If you refuse to participate in the study, we can invite you for an interview, to find out about your perception of the CHANGE program.

Do I have to participate??

No. Participation is completely voluntary. It is your choice to participate in this study or not. If you decide to participate, You reserve the right not to answer any questions, which are inconvenient for you. You can also change your mind at any time and opt out of the program. teachers of leading higher education institutions from all over Ukraine on the peculiarities of teaching such a course, You reserve the right at any time, during an interview or filling out a questionnaire, refuse to participate in this study. Refusal to participate will not have any negative consequences and will not limit any other rights for you or your family members.

What are the possible benefits of participation??

If you decide to participate, You will contribute to our understanding of that, what needs to be done to improve the program, which will contribute to the improvement of well-being of men, who were affected by the war in Ukraine. teachers of leading higher education institutions from all over Ukraine on the peculiarities of teaching such a course, we expect, that the program will be useful to people, who have problem drinking habits and experience high levels of stress and other psychosocial problems. You can also learn important skills to manage your drinking and maintain mental health.

Privacy

All information collected about you will be kept strictly confidential. pay attention, that we and all researchers, who are working on this study, we guarantee privacy and confidentiality of all data, documents and results, related to research. Our activities are in no way connected with the activities of the Ukrainian government, and no personal data is shared with any government agency.

Compensation and reimbursement

We will follow the guidelines of the ethics committee and will reimburse you for your time spent after the initial and follow-up surveys. After each completed survey, you will receive either a gift card for 250 hryvnias to the Silpo store, or topping up a mobile account on 250 UAH. You will not be reimbursed for attending one-on-one sessions with a counselor.

Who sponsors and finances the research?

The CHANGE project is funded by the NIHR-Wellcome Global Health Research Partnership. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in London is sponsoring this study. In Ukraine, LSHTM cooperates with the National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" to implement research (NaUKMA) and NGO "Words help".

To participate in the study, please, register using the link: https://forms.office.com/e/ZqWfZ8ymad

Or call:  +38 050 222 03 10 (viber, telegram)

SCHEME OF THE BASIC RESEARCH

DEVELOPMENT

EXPERT GROUP OF THE PROJECT

Ukraine

United Kingdom

Uganda