title: Medical students help bridge the gap in sexual health education among middle school youth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  School-based programs are important in addressing risky teenage sexual behavior. We implemented a sex education program using trained medical student volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical students (n=30) implemented a seven-session curriculum, designed by medical students and faculty, to 7th and 8th grade students (n=310) at a local school. Middle school students completed pre- and post-assessments. Teachers and medical students completed questionnaires relating their perceptions of students' attitudes and understanding of sexual health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students completing the curriculum scored 5% higher on post- versus pre-assessment (84% vs 78.7%, p<0.001). Statistically significant gains were noted in knowledge of reproductive system anatomy, community resources, and sexual decision making. Sixty percent of middle school teachers compared to only 16.7% of medical student volunteers reported discomfort teaching sexual health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual education delivered by trained medical student volunteers may improve middle schoolers' understanding of sexual health. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2017-01.asp].
authors.affiliation: medical student at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.affiliation: medical student at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yacovelli
authors.affiliation: medical student at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: medical student at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Kunal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sindhu
authors.affiliation: statistical programmer at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: director of the Maternal Child Health Fellowship Program and a family medicine physician at Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, RI.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D012237:Rhode Island; D012572:School Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D012574:Schools; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: medical students; middle school; sexual health; sexually transmitted illnesses; teen pregnancy