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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kaiyti Duffy, MPH, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, 55 W. 39th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018, 646-366-1890 ext. 22, kaiyti@prch.org and Melanie A. Gold, DO, Deparment of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh, One Children's Place, 3705 Fifth Avenue at DeSoto, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Often health care providers are not adequately trained in the specifics of adolescent reproductive health service delivery. Many providers lack the skills necessary to effectively communicate with diverse adolescent patients regarding sex and sexuality, pregnancy, and STI prevention. Additionally, state statutes surrounding a minors' right to confidential care are constantly changing. As a result, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health® has assembled a committee of leading organizations in adolescent health, including The Society for Adolescent Medicine, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a dozen other nationally renowned experts in the field, including teenagers, to develop an initiative to educate providers regarding these issues.

The Adolescent Reproductive Health Education Project consists of a curriculum including nine topic modules, skills building exercises, and video clips of standardized patient cases. All of this is packaged in a user friendly CD Rom. A faculty of expert physicians was extensively trained in October 2005 to deliver the modules throughout the country.

This workshop will discuss the development of the modules. Participants will learn how the curriculum can be used in medical schools, residency programs, private practices, hospitals, community health centers, and other settings serving teens. The presenters will lead session participants through one of the modules, including selected exercises, and video clips of the standardized patient case. Finally, the presenters will facilitate a discussion regarding medical education and adolescent health, specifically addressing ways to change physician behavior and attitudes regarding reproductive health service provision and adolescents.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) Describe the multi-disciplinary collaborative process in the development of the gold standard Adolescent Reproductive Health Education Project.
• 2) Discuss the nine curricular topic modules and their importance in adolescent health service delivery.
• 3) Utilize the exercises, handouts, and skill based activities that will improve each participant’s own practice.

Keywords: Reproductive Health, Adolescent Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered