title: Evaluation of an infant simulator intervention for teen pregnancy prevention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of simulation as a strategy to influence teens' perceptions of pregnancy and parenting.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pilot study was a preexperimental, one group pre/posttest design.
  
  
  METHODS
  The school-based wellness center of a high school was the setting for the weekly sessions and the pre/posttest administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sample members participated in 6 weekly Baby Think it Over (BTIO) classes and an infant simulator experience. The final sample included 79 teens age 14 to 18 years who attended one of eight BTIO sessions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the Thoughts on Teen Parenting Survey (TTPS) to assess the perceptions of teens with regard to the costs and rewards associated with teen parenting. The TTPS yields a composite score of the teen attitudes toward the teen parenting experience and eight subscale scores that assess different areas of teen life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found in the mean pre/posttest scores or in correlations of the demographic data and mean scores. Two significant differences in pre/posttest subscale scores were in the areas of friends and personal characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that the effectiveness of using infant simulators to influence the perceptions of teens about the reality of teen parenting is minimal.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
authors.forename: Judith W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Herrman
authors.forename: Julie K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Waterhouse
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chiquoine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008348:Manikins; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012381:Role Playing; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012649:Self Concept; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States