Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the POWER Through Choices Program

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the POWER Through Choices (PTC) curriculum in increasing contraceptive use and delaying sexual initiation among youth living in group foster care homes.

Detailed Description
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Youth in foster care are at especially high risk for teen pregnancy and associated sexual risk behaviors. The POWER Through Choices (PTC) program is a 10-session sexuality curriculum that aims to increase contraceptive use and delay sexual initiation by empowering youth to make healthy, positive choices about their sexual behaviors. This study uses a cluster randomized design to compare the effectiveness of PTC to usual programs and services provided to youth living in group foster care homes. Study participants will be youth living in group foster homes recruited in four locations: Kern County, CA; Cook County, IL; Baltimore County, MD; and Oklahoma (statewide). The study is being conducted as part of the national Evaluation of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Approaches funded by the Office of Adolescent Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Official Title
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Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the POWER Through Choices Program

Conditions
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Pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Infections

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: POWER Through Choices


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Resident of group foster care home Exclusion Criteria: Pregnant or parenting

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 13 Years
Maximum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: POWER Through Choices<br>10-session group-based sexual education curriculum | Behavioral: POWER Through Choices<br>* 10-session group-based sexual education curriculum<br>|
| No Intervention: Usual services<br>No intervention | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Consistent contraceptive use |  | 12 months | 
| Sexual initiation |  | 12 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Knowledge of contraceptive use and reproductive health |  | 6 months | 
| Intentions to delay sexual initiation and unprotected sex |  | 6 months | 
| Attitudes toward sexual activity and contraceptive use |  | 6 months | 
| Scores on scale of self-efficacy to avoid sexual risk behaviors |  | 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Teen pregnancy, Sexually transmitted infections, Sexual risk behaviors