Technology-Based Resources to Increase Uptake of Sexual Health Services for Teens

Technology-Based Resources to Increase Uptake of Sexual Health Services for Teens

Alone time with healthcare providers is vital for adolescents, as recommended by several professional organizations, as it enhances health service utilization, empowers adolescents to manage their health, and facilitates discussions on sensitive issues. Despite its importance, only 40% of adolescents have private conversations with clinicians during visits. mHealth technology offers a promising solution for effective interventions to promote alone time with providers for adolescents, parents, and healthcare providers. This pilot study aims to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of a technology-based intervention designed to increase alone time with providers during well-adolescent visits (WAVs) and its impact on trustworthiness, parent-adolescent communication, sexual risk communication, parental monitoring, and parental support. After providing consent, participants accessed a study website to complete a baseline survey, interact with four modules, and complete a post-test survey one month after WAVs. Surveys assessed alone time, trustworthiness, parent-adolescent communication, sexual risk communication, parental monitoring, and parental support.

Background: Alone time with healthcare providers is critical for adolescents; several professional organizations recommend it. Alone time with providers promotes better utilization of health services, empowers adolescents to manage their health, and facilitates discussions on sensitive issues. However, only 40% of adolescents have private conversations with clinicians during visits. The advancement mHealth technology provides an excellent opportunity to deliver effective interventions to promote adolescent/provider alone time with adolescents, parents, and providers.

Objective: This pilot study aims to explore 1) the preliminary efficacy of a technology-based intervention designed to increase Alone time with providers during well-adolescent visits (WAVs) and 2) its impact on trustworthiness, parent-adolescent communication, sexual risk communication, parental monitoring, and parental support before and after the intervention.

Methods: A pre and post test design is utilized. After obtaining consent, participants accessed a study website to complete a baseline survey, interact with four modules, and complete a post-test survey one month after WAVs. Participants completed surveys assessing alone time, trustworthiness, parent-adolescent communication, sexual risk communication, parental monitoring, and parental support. Mixed model analysis and effect sizes for pre- and post-intervention outcomes were employed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The child is between 11 and 17 years old
• The child can read and speak English
• The child has access to the internet (via phone or computer)
• The child has a well-child visit scheduled in the next 6 months.
• Mother could be included if they had an adolescent enrolled in this study
• Mother who speaks and reads English, Cantonese, Mandarin, or Spanish
• Mother has access to the internet.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not have a well-child visit scheduled in the next 6 months.