title: IknowUshould2: Feasibility of a Youth-Driven Social Media Campaign to Promote STI and HIV Testing Among Adolescents in Philadelphia.
abstract: A youth-driven, social media-based campaign aimed at improving knowledge about and increasing testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/HIV among youth 13-17 years old was assessed by: tracking website/social media use throughout the campaign; online survey of knowledge of and attitudes towards STI testing 9 months after campaign launch; and comparing rates of STI testing at affiliated family planning clinics during the 1 year period immediately prior versus 1 year immediately after campaign launch. Over 1,500 youth were reached via social media. Survey results showed 46 % of youth had never been tested, but 70 % intended to test in the next 6 months. While the total number of GC/CT tests conducted and positive results were not significantly different pre- and post-campaign, there was a large increase in the proportion of visits at which Syphilis (5.4 vs. 18.8 %; p < 0.01) and HIV (5.4 vs. 19.0 %; p < 0.01) testing was conducted post-campaign launch. Future campaigns should incorporate lessons learned about engaging younger adolescents, social media strategies, and specific barriers to testing in this age group.
authors.affiliation: Craig-Dalsimer Division of Adolescent Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3535 Market Street, Room 1542, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA, dowshenn@email.chop.edu.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dowshen
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Matty Lehman
authors.forename: Marné
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mollen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D015143:Philadelphia; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*