Abstract
Background
World health organisations advocate a direct focus on adolescent men in reducing adolescent pregnancy, however no trials have been conducted. This trial (ISRCTN11632300; NCT02092480) determines whether a novel Relationship and Sexuality Educational intervention, If I Were Jack, which emphasises positive male responsibility in preventing unintended pregnancies and involves an interactive video drama, was acceptable and feasible to implement in mixed-sex UK classrooms.
Methods
The trial was an unblinded parallel-group cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial with embedded process and cost evaluation in eight secondary schools (unit of randomisation) among 831 pupils (mean age 14) in Northern Ireland, alongside a qualitative evaluation of transferability in ten schools in Scotland, Wales and England. Study duration was twelve months (from November 2014), with nine month follow-up.
Results
The results of the study demonstrated that the intervention was acceptable to schools, pupils and teachers, and could be feasibly implemented, cost-effectively, with minor enhancements. The between-group difference in incidence of unprotected sex (primary outcome at pupil level) of 1.3% (95% CI 0.5-2.2) by nine months demonstrated a potential effect size consistent with those reported to have had meaningful impact on teenage pregnancy.
Conclusions
The study responds to global health policy for a paradigm shift towards inclusion of men in the achievement of sexual and reproductive health goals in a practical way by demonstrating that a gender-sensitive intervention targeting males to prevent teenage pregnancy is acceptable to adolescent men and women and implementable in formal education structures. Feasibility results indicated that If I Were Jack merits further effectiveness testing. Recruitment is currently underway for a UK wide cluster randomised controlled trial.
World health organisations advocate a direct focus on adolescent men in reducing adolescent pregnancy, however no trials have been conducted. This trial (ISRCTN11632300; NCT02092480) determines whether a novel Relationship and Sexuality Educational intervention, If I Were Jack, which emphasises positive male responsibility in preventing unintended pregnancies and involves an interactive video drama, was acceptable and feasible to implement in mixed-sex UK classrooms.
Methods
The trial was an unblinded parallel-group cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial with embedded process and cost evaluation in eight secondary schools (unit of randomisation) among 831 pupils (mean age 14) in Northern Ireland, alongside a qualitative evaluation of transferability in ten schools in Scotland, Wales and England. Study duration was twelve months (from November 2014), with nine month follow-up.
Results
The results of the study demonstrated that the intervention was acceptable to schools, pupils and teachers, and could be feasibly implemented, cost-effectively, with minor enhancements. The between-group difference in incidence of unprotected sex (primary outcome at pupil level) of 1.3% (95% CI 0.5-2.2) by nine months demonstrated a potential effect size consistent with those reported to have had meaningful impact on teenage pregnancy.
Conclusions
The study responds to global health policy for a paradigm shift towards inclusion of men in the achievement of sexual and reproductive health goals in a practical way by demonstrating that a gender-sensitive intervention targeting males to prevent teenage pregnancy is acceptable to adolescent men and women and implementable in formal education structures. Feasibility results indicated that If I Were Jack merits further effectiveness testing. Recruitment is currently underway for a UK wide cluster randomised controlled trial.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 22 Jun 2018 |
| Event | British Psychological Society - Male Psychology Conference - University College London, London, United Kingdom Duration: 22 Jun 2018 → 23 Jun 2018 |
Conference
| Conference | British Psychological Society - Male Psychology Conference |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | BPS Male Psychology Conference |
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | London |
| Period | 22/06/2018 → 23/06/2018 |
