An Interactive Website to Reduce Sexual Risk Behavior: Process Evaluation of TeensTalkHealth.
BACKGROUND
Different theoretical frameworks support the use of interactive websites to promote sexual health. Although several Web-based interventions have been developed to address sexual risk taking among young people, no evaluated interventions have attempted to foster behavior change through moderated interaction among a virtual network of adolescents (who remain anonymous to one another) and health professionals.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to conduct a summative process evaluation of TeensTalkHealth, an interactive sexual health website designed to promote condom use and other healthy decision making in the context of romantic and sexual relationships.


METHODS
Evaluation data were obtained from 147 adolescents who participated in a feasibility and acceptability study. Video vignettes, teen-friendly articles, and other content served as conversation catalysts between adolescents and health educators on message boards.


RESULTS
Adolescents' perceptions that the website encouraged condom use across a variety of relationship situations were very high. Almost 60% (54/92, 59%) of intervention participants completed two-thirds or more of requested tasks across the 4-month intervention. Adolescents reported high levels of comfort, perceived privacy, ease of website access and use, and perceived credibility of health educators. Potential strategies to enhance engagement and completion of intervention tasks during future implementations of TeensTalkHealth are discussed, including tailoring of content, periodic website chats with health educators and anonymous peers, and greater incorporation of features from popular social networking websites.


CONCLUSIONS
TeensTalkHealth is a feasible, acceptable, and promising approach to complement and enhance existing services for youth.
Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States. ssbrady@umn.edu.
Sonya S
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8660-9308
SS
Brady
Renee E
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6523-3989
RE
Sieving
Loren G
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8843-4035
LG
Terveen
B R Simon
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8862-531X
BR
Rosser
Amy J
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8039-5422
AJ
Kodet
Vienna D
VD
Rothberg
adolescent; evaluation; intervention studies; sexual health; technology