Study protocol for 5Ways@School – An implementation and effectiveness trial of a school-based wellbeing intervention in 16 schools in Norway

Aims: This study aims to assess the effectiveness and implementation of the 5Ways@School curriculum-based intervention in Norwegian schools. The intervention builds on the Five Ways to Wellbeing framework, and promotes five action domains: connect with others, be physically active, take notice, keep learning, and give. The study objectives include assessing the intervention’s acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, and cost, as well as its impact on students’ wellbeing and mental health. Methods: The study is a hybrid effectiveness–implementation trial using mixed methods. It is a longitudinal, two-armed, non-randomized, controlled study involving students in grades 5 to 10 (ages 10 to 16). The primary outcomes are the intervention’s acceptability and feasibility, and its effectiveness on students’ wellbeing. Data collection includes web-based questionnaires for students and teachers, and qualitative interviews with teachers. Quantitative data will be analysed using multilevel regression models and network intervention analysis, while qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis. Conclusions: The study aims to provide insights into the implementation and effectiveness of the wellbeing-promoting 5Ways@School intervention. The findings could inform the optimization of the 5Ways@School and other future school-based interventions, and thereby contribute to the wellbeing of children and young people. The study’s strengths include its real-life school setting and mixed methods approach, while limitations include its non-randomized design. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID NCT06144502.