NIH State-of-the-Science Conference Statement on preventing violence and related health-risking social behaviors in adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS: The panel highlights the following findings and recommendations: (1) Violence affects all of us at some level and represents an issue of vital national and international importance; (2) Some interventions have been shown by rigorous research to reduce violence precursors, violence, and arrest. However, many interventions aimed at reducing violence have not been sufficiently evaluated or proven effective, and a few widely implemented programs have been shown to be ineffective and perhaps harmful; (3) Programs that seek to prevent violence through fear and tough treatment appear ineffective. Intensive programs that aim at developing skills and competencies can work; (4) Interventions to reduce violence may be context dependent. Research must proceed in varying contexts and take account of local culture; (5) Attention to diversity among investigators involved in violence prevention research is important. Universities and funding agencies should make improving the situation a priority; (6) We encourage funding sufficient to promote the dissemination of violence prevention programs that have been shown to be effective through rigorous RCT research. Funding must include support for research, and monitoring must continue as these programs are more widely implemented. PMID: 17308550 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Source: NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements - Category: American Health Tags: NIH Consens State Sci Statements Source Type: research