Evaluation of Peer Group Connection

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

A randomized controlled trial is being conducted in high schools in North Carolina and New York City to determine the impact of a school-based, positive youth development program on sexual behaviors associated with teen pregnancy

Clinical Trial Description

The Policy & Research Group (PRG) is conducting a rigorous evaluation of the Peer Group Connection (PGC) program's impact on sexual behaviors associated with teen pregnancy. PGC is a school-based, group peer mentoring program for ninth grade students that is designed to facilitate the transition into high school and improve non-cognitive abilities, student engagement, and educational outcomes. The study enrolls students from high schools that serve large populations of economically disadvantaged and minority students in communities with high teenage birth rates. In North Carolina, the study is being implemented in schools serving rural populations, and in New York City, schools serving largely Hispanic and other minority populations are targeted. As part of the PGC program, ninth-grade participants attend weekly group outreach sessions led by older peer leaders. Outreach sessions occur during regularly scheduled classes (participants are pulled from their classes to attend). They include hands-on activities, simulations, and discussions intended to build group cohesion and to improve the decision-making skills of group members. A minimum of 18, 45-minute outreach sessions are expected to be offered to PGC participants during the course of their ninth-grade year. Although PGC is not explicitly a sexual health or teen pregnancy prevention program, the belief is that by engaging ninth grade students in school, building connectedness among peers, and building students' decision-making and goal-setting skills, PGC will encourage students to make healthier decisions, including reducing sexual risk-taking and increasing protective behaviors. The comparison condition consists of normally scheduled classes or activities (e.g., Physical Education/Health class, elective class, or homeroom period) that comparison group participants are assigned to during the period that PGC outreaches occur. Comparison group participants will therefore receive more time in the regularly scheduled class than will the treatment group, but there will be no alternative program or additional activities offered to the participants assigned to the comparison group. The study is an individual randomized controlled trial in which eligible, consenting ninth grade participants are randomly assigned by the evaluator to intervention (PGC) or control (class as usual) groups at a 1:1 ratio. Outcomes will be assessed using questionnaire data gathered at three time points: baseline, occurring during the fall of participants' 9th grade year (prior to the provision of any PGC programming), and follow-up during the fall of their 10th and 11th grade years. Primary outcomes of interest include sexual initiation, frequency of any type of sex, and number of sexual partners. ;

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

Pregnancy in Adolescence

Clinical Trial Details

NCT number	NCT03240887
Study type	Interventional
Source	The Policy & Research Group
Contact
Status	Completed
Phase	N/A
Start date	April 2016
Completion date	June 2021

View Details

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Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.

Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.