title: Project Northland in Croatia: results and lessons learned.
abstract: As part of an international public health partnership formed in 2001 we assessed the impact of Project Northland in Croatia--an adolescent alcohol school-based prevention intervention implemented in Split--on students. The curriculum was implemented in 13 randomly selected schools with another 13 schools serving as controls. The evaluation included quantitative and qualitative methods, using pre/post-tests to compare intervention and controls and follow-up focus groups with parents and teachers. Quantitative data showed the intervention was more successful in changing attitudes in the first two years, but had less impact on older students. Qualitative data suggest benefits from the program overall. Given the intervention was successful in the earlier grades it should be initiated earlier to have a greater impact. Challenges and lessons learned are offered.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. westbm@Umdjn.edu
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abatemarco
authors.forename: Pamela A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ohman-Strickland
authors.forename: Vezna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zec
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Ranko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D017523:Croatia; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011057:Politics; D011635:Public Health Administration; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012737:Sex Factors