Investigators will attend a series of community outreach events that provide/demonstrate telemedicine and the Children's Mercy Mobile Unit which is equipped to provide direct patient care. Investigators will engage up to 12 teen peer leaders to encourage healthcare-seeking behaviors and mobilize their social networks to attend outreach events. At all events, the mobile unit will be available for teens to (a) demonstrate the mobile unit and telehealth experience; (b) learn about Sexual and Reproductive Health/Mental Health (SRH/MH) and local care resources; (c) register for future telemedicine care; (d) acquire free over-the-counter emergency contraception, condoms, and pregnancy tests.
AccessKCTeen is a pilot clinical outreach program that uses Children Mercy's Mobile Unit and Telemedicine to demonstrate and increase access to SRH and MH. AccessKCTeen intends to focus on these central activities: 1. Education based on a peer-leader model: In collaboration with community-based partners, investigators will identify and train approximately 12 peer leaders in disseminating information and resources for MH/SRH to their social networks. Peer leaders may disseminate information in the form of sharing curated online resources or mobilizing friends to attend live educational events. Peer leaders will also help connect their friends to resources by spreading information and encouraging friends to attend CM mobile unit demonstrations. Investigators will use text messaging to engage peers in these educational events and share general health resources. 2. Mobile Unit and Telemedicine Demonstration Events: The mobile unit will be present at community events to demonstrate how in-person care could work on the unit as well as how telemedicine works. Investigators will answer questions and help adolescents get registered for telemedicine.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
98
Teens will have an opportunity to interact with established peer leaders that are a part of the AccessKCTeen program. These leaders will receive a baseline training of their role, sexual and mental health. They will also receive health education and engage with a peer liason via text messages throughout the study.
Children's Mercy
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Uptake of any Sexual and Reproductive/Mental Health Care in past 30 days
Look at the uptake frequency in Sexual and Mental health care among participants within 30 days of baseline and educational interventions.
Time frame: one month
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