Effecting Change, Providing Services

Evaluation of such diverse programs as an abstinence-only adolescent pregnancy prevention program and a free nicotine replacement therapy project promotion are among the recently funded projects of Cal State Fullerton’s Social Science Research Center. 

The SSRC, under the direction of Laura Gil-Trejo, has received a total of $262,3000 from Catholic Healthcare West to evaluate a three-year abstinence-based pregnancy prevention program. 

The semester-long program, implemented in the San Fernando Valley, incorporates theater arts and peer educators to teach middle school students and their parents the value of remaining abstinent until marriage and how to maintain open lines of communication regarding sensitive topics such as puberty, teen sexuality and peer pressure. 

Serving as an external evaluator, the SSRC is assessing the impact of the program using a two-group “quasi-experimental” design in which six demographically similar middle schools in the target area were randomly assigned to receive the intervention or a comparison program of health and nutrition education, said Gil-Trejo. 

Students recruited to participate in the intervention and comparison conditions were administered a pretest instrument prior to program implementation, a follow-up test immediately at the programs conclusion, and again at 6, 12 and 18 months. 

“The pre- and post-tests are being used to assess changes in intentions to remain abstinent, beliefs and attitudes regarding early sexual behavior, and parent-adolescent communication,” said Gil-Trejo. 

The SSRC is currently compiling and analyzing data collected over the last three years. “Preliminary analysis suggests that participation in the abstinence education program is associated with an increase in parent-teen communications and a decrease in teen’s permissive beliefs and attitudes about early sexual behavior,” said Gil-Trejo. 

The final report detailing the outcomes associated with the program is due to the Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention in March. 

In addition, the SSRC received an additional $87,000 grant from OAPP to disseminate the program findings. Three articles about the program development, implementation and results are being developed, Gil-Trejo said, and will be submitted to peer-review journals this year .

Nicotine Replacement

The Social Science Research Center also received a $40,852 Los Angeles County contract to administer follow-up telephone surveys with individuals who had received free nicotine replacement products as part of a large “Nicotine Replacement Therapy Promotion” sponsored through the county’s Tobacco Control and Prevention Program. 

The products were distributed at 47 Ralphs pharmacies and various events throughout Los Angeles County. Every individual receiving a free nicotine replacement product through the promotion completed a brief, one page baseline survey assessing current smoking behaviors, intentions to quit and other demographic questions, said Gil-Trejo. 

Between April 5 and June 2, the SSRC completed telephone interviews with 2,403 individuals who participated in the promotion. Respondents were asked approximately 50 questions about: the promotion experience; product use; product effectiveness; other methods used to quit smoking; and several demographic questions. 

“The information collected through these surveys will be used by the county to examine the impact of the program on outcomes related to smoking behavior,” noted Gil-Trejo.

Oct. 4, 2010