Research Question on STI Prevention in Adolescents

This research question investigates the impact of access to STI prevention resources on adolescents’ knowledge and attitudes towards STI prevention.

Formalized Hypothesis:

Adolescents aged 13-19 with access to publicly available STI prevention resources (P) will show greater improvement in knowledge and attitudes towards STI prevention (O) over an 8-week period (T) compared to those with limited access (C).

Breakdown of the Variables:

• Independent Variable (I): Access to publicly available STI prevention resources (P) vs. Limited access (C). This could involve comparing groups with access to educational websites, hotlines, workshops, or informational pamphlets compared to those with limited or no access.
• Dependent Variable (O): Knowledge and attitudes towards STI prevention. This can be measured through pre- and post-intervention surveys that assess knowledge about STI transmission, prevention methods, and risk factors. Additionally, the survey could gauge attitudes towards condom use, communication with partners, and openness towards seeking STI testing.
• Population (P): Adolescents aged 13-19 years.
• Time (T): The study will be conducted over an 8-week period.

Expected Outcome:

We expect the group with access to STI prevention resources (P) to demonstrate a more significant increase in knowledge and positive attitudes towards STI prevention (O) after the 8-week period (T) compared to the group with limited access (C).

Additional Considerations:

• The study design could be a randomized controlled trial (RCT) where participants are randomly assigned to either the intervention (access to resources) or control group (limited access).
• The research should consider potential confounding variables such as socioeconomic status, parental education level, and pre-existing knowledge about STIs.
• It’s important to ensure the resources are age-appropriate, culturally relevant, and address potential barriers to access, such as language or technology limitations.

By investigating this question, researchers can gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of public STI prevention initiatives in improving adolescent sexual health knowledge and behavior.