Table 2 Checklist of project quality requirements with strength-of-evidence of effectiveness of the essential effectiveness elements (I)

Theoretical foundation

Theoretical model

0.24

Objectives

Clear definition

–

Focus on primary prevention

–

Focus on secondary prevention

–

Focus on tertiary prevention

–

Participants

Families

0.29

Out-of-school community

–

Elementary school students

–

Secondary school students

–

Content

Life skills

0.53

Knowledge about drugs

–

Positive social relationships

0.29

Alternative activities to drug use

0.06

Methodology

Interactive/experiential

0.29/0.18

Informative

0.24

Written printed material

–

Audio-visual/internet material

–

Characteristics

Bimonthly duration

0.21

Semi-annual duration

Annual duration

Daily periodicity

Weekly periodicity

Monthly periodicity

Semi-annual periodicity

Implementation by agents with specific training

0.29

Implementation by out-of-school agents

0.18

Implementation by students as mediators

0.35

Design by the whole school community

0.18

Design based on the participants’ needs

0.24

Inclusion in the school curriculum

0.06

Content reinforcement

0.24

Evaluation

Pre- and post-test

0.28

Process evaluation

Control group

Qualitative evaluation