Influence of Peer Mentoring on Adolescent Contraceptive Decision Making

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

Official Title
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The Influence of Peer Mentoring on Contraceptive Decision Making Among Adolescents

Conditions
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Peer Counseling, LARC Desire

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Peer Mentor Counseling


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 13 Years
Maximum Age: 21 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Routine Counseling<br>Subjects randomized to receive routine counseling before selecting a method of contraception | |
| Experimental: Peer Mentor counseling<br>Subjects randomized to receive peer counseling before selecting a method of contraception | Behavioral: Peer Mentor Counseling<br>* 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.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. | at enrollment/baseline visit | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of participants who maintained LARC uptake | This data is being obtained through a brief follow-up questionnaire conducted over the phone. | 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. | 4 months after enrollment/baseline visit. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Unintended pregnancy in adolescence, contraception, LARC