Evaluation of an Inpatient Sexual Risk Behavior Assessment Program

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are disproportionately common among 15-24 year-old females, and can have detrimental effects including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. Most STI's are asymptomatic, especially for females, making screening programs essential. Current guidelines recommend HIV screening for all adolescents, and yearly chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active females under 25 years-old. Yet only one-third of primary care physicians report screening asymptomatic adolescents. Most adolescents report no sexual health discussion during preventative healthcare visits. Furthermore the majority do not regularly attend preventative healthcare visits. Therefore, urgent healthcare visits, often in emergency departments (ED) and inpatient settings, provide an important point of contact.

Given adolescents infrequently obtain outpatient sexual health services, the inpatient stay may serve as a critical intervention point. Other studies have found success with STI screening programs in the ED; none to our knowledge examined the efficacy of an inpatient sexual health screening protocol. Previous pilot data demonstrated, however, significant interest in sexual health information and desire for STI testing among adolescents admitted to a children's hospital.

Investigators conducted an exploratory study to evaluate the feasibility and potential effects of an innovative, individualized electronic inpatient sexual health intervention (iRAP) for adolescent females. The central hypothesis is that the electronic intervention, based on the Trans Theoretical Model (TTM) of behavior change, will significantly increase adolescent females' requests for STI screening and sexual health management.

Investigators enrolled 70 14-18 year-old, medically stable female inpatients admitted to the hospitalist service at Hasbro Children's Hospital for a randomized control trial during a one-year period. Participants were randomized to receive an electronic sexual risk assessment with or without real-time tailored feedback. Feedback was based on the TTM, utilizing readiness for change to determine appropriate messaging. Participants were then able to electronically request sexual health management options, including STI testing, discussion with their inpatient or outpatient physician, or technology-hosted information on contraception. Investigators conducted a chart review of enrolled adolescents to determine if sexual health topics were addressed.

The investigators are examining participation rates, length of time to perform all study elements, and proportion of teens that obtain requested service. Additionally, the investigators are comparing participants' perceived reproductive health risk and uptake of offered services between the intervention and control groups.