Although preventive health-seeking remains one of the most pressing health issues for adolescents, school-based health promotion interventions remain an underused approach to improving adolescent health-seeking behaviors and increasing communication. The feasibility of implementing such a program in a New York City Public School is evaluated through this project. The 112 study participants attended a ninth grade summer orientation program, and were randomized in to experimental and control groups. Experimental subjects were invited to participate in 3 two-hour health promotion workshops. All subjects completed baseline, immediate post, and 60-day follow-up surveys. The content of the most recent visits reported by adolescents lacks provider-initiated communication; less than half of respondents report communication about substance use, sexuality, and STDs. Similarly, less than one quarter of all respondents report initiating communication about these issues. Preliminary results indicate that those students who received the health curriculum have a higher rate of health-seeking behaviors, compared to control group students. Several findings regarding the current state of adolescent health seeking are apparent: health check-ups need to be more frequent and must include communication about both sexuality and substance use. Similarly, several lessons about working within the public school setting can be found: Working within the existing structure of a public high school requires relationship-building within the school community. Advance meetings with school officials, flexibility scheduling project components, and establishing on-going communication between project staff and the school parent all proved to be essential components in the successful implementation of this project.
Learning Objectives: 1. To describe important strategies for the creation of a partnership between a research institution and a public high school in an urban community. 2. To explain the application and content of a health promotion curriculum in a high school setting.
Keywords: Adolescent Health, School-Based Programs
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.