246591 Developing and conducting a review of the evidence on programs to reduce teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and associated sexual risk behaviors

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Seth Chamberlain, MSS , Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, Washington, DC
Amy Margolis, MPH , Office of Adolescent Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD
Lisa Trivits, PhD , Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC
Diana Tyson, PhD , Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC
Silvie Colman, PhD , Evaluation of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Approaches, Mathematica Policy Research, Princeton, NJ
Brian Goesling, PhD , Evaluation of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Approaches, Mathematica Policy Research, Princeton, NJ
Chris Trenholm, PhD , Mathematica Policy Research, Princeton, NJ
In 2010, a new Teenage Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program was established within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the high rates of teenage pregnancy in the United States. This two-tier program focuses on replicating evidence-based program models (Tier 1) and testing innovative approaches to teenage pregnancy prevention (Tier 2). This presentation will describe the process that HHS used to conduct a systematic, comprehensive review of the evidence on programs to reduce teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and associated sexual risk behaviors. The purpose of this review was to identify program models that are evidence-based, and therefore eligible for replication under Tier 1 of the TPP Initiative. The review process identified 28 evidence-based program models that were rated as either high or moderate in study quality and showed a significant impact on one of the behavioral outcomes of interest. The presentation will describe the steps involved in conducting the systematic evidence review and explain the criteria for assessing the quality of studies and determining evidence of program impact. In addition, the presentation will discuss the findings from the evidence review, including gaps in the research evidence. Limitations of the review and lessons learned will be discussed. Finally, the presentation will explain current plans for maintaining and updating the review over time.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the steps involved in conducting a rigorous, systematic review of an existing evidence base. 2. Explain the criteria for assessing the quality of studies and whether the studies demonstrate evidence of effectiveness. 3. Describe the findings from the evidence review, along with the limitations of such an evidence review.

Keywords: Evidence Based Practice, Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I oversee the evidence review of teenage pregnancy prevention programs for the Department of Health and Human Services.
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.