Overview

The Hormonal Contraceptive Health Education for Adolescent Males trial looks at educational electronic applications about female hormonal contraception for males who present to the pediatric emergency department. The aim is to see if this education leads to an increase in contraceptive use and a decrease in unintended pregnancies, as the male subjects might discuss hormonal contraception with sexual partners. This is a major health issue as an estimated 9% of males become fathers before the age of 20 and many of the adolescents who present to the emergency department engage in high risk sexual encounters.

Study Information

In this study, males between the ages of 15-21 who report to the emergency department and who are sexually active with females will be given an electronic application to answer questions about sexual history and watch videos and information about contraceptives. The estimated 300 participants will be divided into an experimental group (that watches videos about birth control) and a control group (that doesn’t watch the videos.) Patients will then be followed up with 3 months later with a survey of sexual history questions to determine the data.

Inclusion Criteria

• Males ages 15-21
• Sexually active and have had vaginal sex 
• Present to the St Louis Children’s Hospital pediatric emergency department

Exclusion Criteria

• Males that have never had vaginal sex
• Require activation of the trauma system
• Triage as high severity (level 1 or level 2)
• Present for evaluation of abuse, sexual assault, or psychiatric issues
• Unable to speak English
• Wards of the state
• Disabilities that prevent independent use of a tablet device
• Have not completed the electronic adolescent health questionnaire that is standard of care in our emergency department as this is needed for screening purposes

Locations

Washington University at St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110

Contact: Kayleigh Fischer, MD    314-454-2341 k.fischer@wustl.edu  

Contact: Fahd Ahmad, MD    314-454-2341 fahd.ahmad@wustl.edu   

Sponsors/Collaborators

Washington University School of Medicine