Evaluation of Video Intervention on Sex-Related Psychosocial and Behavioral Outcomes in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Female Adolescents

Background:  Seventeen Days is a theory-based interactive video designed to reduce STIs and unplanned pregnancies in female adolescents. The primary goal is behavioral change, so the intervention was designed to influence important precursors such as knowledge about condoms and self-efficacy for condom use. The objective of this presentation is to assess the effects of Seventeen Days relative to another interactive video, Driving Skills for Life, on these behavioral and psychosocial outcomes six months after intervention.  

Methods:  Participants were sexually active females ages 14 to 19 recruited into a randomized controlled trial from 20 clinics in OH, PA, and WV. After completing baseline measures, 1,317 participants were randomly assigned to one of two interactive video interventions. These analyses focus on outcomes reported by 674 participants in a follow-up survey six months after randomization. ANCOVAs were used to examine differences in self-efficacy and knowledge, and regression analyses compared the prevalence of self-reported sexual behavior, including abstinence.

Results:  After controlling for baseline scores of self-efficacy and knowledge as well as age and race, participants in the Seventeen Days condition reported higher condom use self-efficacy beliefs at six months (M = 29.62) compared to those in the driving condition (M = 28.69), F (6, 667) = 8.09, p = .014, partial η²  = .009). They also reported increased knowledge about condoms (M = 3.76) compared to control condition participants (M = 3.64), F (6, 667) = 8.38, p = .004, partial η²  = .012). There were no significant differences in self-reported sexual behavior outcomes.   

Conclusions:  Seventeen Days improved perceived condom use self-efficacy and knowledge about condoms in a population of sexually active female adolescents. Behavioral change may be dose-dependent, however, and a large proportion of participants failing to complete the baseline dosage limited our ability to evaluate the impact of the intervention on behavioral outcomes.