179140 Teen quizzes: A springboard for partner communication about sex and sexual health

Monday, October 27, 2008: 12:50 PM

Kimberly Aumack Yee, BA , Consultant for the Institute for Reproductive Health, Georgetown University, Alameda, CA
Aaron Lones, MPH , Tri-City Health Center, Fremont, CA
Sophia Carrillo, BS , Tri-City Health Center, Fremont, CA
Great effort is often spent developing, testing, and producing educational materials designed specifically for the needs of a target audience. But do they actually achieve the desired results? What approaches resonate with adolescents; and what makes a difference in terms of behavior change that can lead to positive health outcomes? This paper presents research on new approaches for helping teens to engage in conversation with their respective partners about healthy sexual behaviors including family planning method use and protection against sexually transmitted infections. A new approach is to fashion interactive, educational materials after popular quizzes commonly found in teen magazines. Designed to support a research project testing couple-focused family planning services, these materials were carefully developed, tested, and revised to include language, tone, and format appealing to a highly diverse teen audience. The development phase for the materials included individual interviews with teens, as well as input from a teen advisory group, male involvement outreach staff, teen clinic providers, peer counselors, and researchers. After these materials were tested and used in clinic services and outreach, exit interviews were conducted at the teen clinic, and focus groups were conducted at a local high school to assess the usefulness of the materials as a springboard for partner conversation. Preliminary analysis suggests that teens do use the materials to engage partners in conversation about sexual health. Details about the focus group results and exit interviews will be presented, along with lessons learned, and implications for designing effective, interactive materials relevant to youth.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe ways to adapt media with a demonstrated appeal for an adolescent audience to opportunities for health promotion and education through clinic services, outreach, and classroom instruction. 2. Identify indicators of effective, interactive educational materials relevant to adolescents.

Keywords: Reproductive Health, Adolescent Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I designed the intervention component of the research project, and collaborated in the development, production and testing of the educational materials discussed in the abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.