Influence of Peer Mentoring on Adolescent Contraceptive Decision Making

University of Pennsylvania110 enrolled

Overview

This is a prospective, randomized-controlled trial in which subjects will be randomized to receive either routine contraceptive counseling or peer mentoring plus routine contraceptive counseling.

Unintended adolescent pregnancy continues to be a significant public health problem in the United States. While the use of highly effective forms of birth control, such as the long-acting, reversible contraceptives (LARC) have been found to be more effective in decreasing pregnancy rates than non-LARC methods of birth control, knowledge and use of LARC has been shown to be low in this vulnerable population. We are interested in better understanding the influence peers may have on contraceptive decision making among adolescents. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a peer mentoring intervention on adolescent contraceptive decision making, specifically with regard to increasing long-acting, reversible contraceptive uptake. The main study intervention will consist of randomization to usual contraceptive counseling versus peer-mentoring plus usual contraceptive counseling. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires will be used to better understand peer influence on contraceptive decision making, and to assess the peer mentor-teen intervention interaction.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

110

Conditions

Peer Counseling LARC Desire

Interventions

Peer Mentor CounselingBEHAVIORAL

Peer mentoring will entail the peer mentor describing her positive experience with her LARC method. The participant will then have a chance to ask any experience related questions to the mentor. Any clinical inquiries or questions the mentor does not feel comfortable answering, she will defer to the contraceptive counselor/ physician who will be subsequently providing the routine counseling. The entire peer mentor encounter should not last more than 10 minutes.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 13 YearsMax age: 21 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * English speaking * Female * Age 13-21 years old at enrollment * Desiring contraception; either currently not taking any method of contraception, or not satisfied with current method, and not desiring pregnancy in the next 12 months * Willing and able to follow the study protocol Exclusion Criteria: * Male gender * Younger than 13 years old, older than 21 years old * Pregnant or desiring pregnancy within the coming year * Issues or concerns in the judgement of the investigator that may compromise the safety of the subject or confound the reliability of compliance and information acquired in this study

Locations (1)

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Number of study participants who chose long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) after all contraceptive counseling was done.

This data was obtained by the number of participants who chose to have an IUD or Implant inserted after counseling at their clinic visit.

Time frame: at enrollment/baseline visit

Secondary Outcomes

Number of participants who maintained LARC uptake

This data is being obtained through a brief follow-up questionnaire conducted over the phone.

Time frame: 4 months from enrollment/baseline visit

Number of participants who maintained a positive opinion of LARC method as their primary choice for birth control

This data is being obtained through a brief follow-up questionnaire conducted over the phone.

Time frame: 4 months after enrollment/baseline visit.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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