NCT06582641

Evaluation of Peer Group Connection - Middle School

Evaluation of Peer Group Connection - Middle School (PGC-MS)

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 1,400 (estimated)
• Sponsor: The Policy & Research Group · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 11 Years – 14 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this randomized trial is to learn if the Peer Group Connection - Middle School (PGC-MS) intervention delays initiation of sexual intercourse in middle school-aged youth. The primary research question it aims to answer is: Sixteen months after being offered the intervention, does PGC-MS impact youth's initiation of sexual intercourse? Researchers will compare participants randomized to receive PGC-MS (treatment group) to participants randomized to class-as-usual (which contains no sexual or reproductive health information (control group)). Participants randomized to the treatment group will be offered PGC-MS over the course of their transition year into middle school (either 6th or 7th grade). Participants randomized to the control group will be offered class-as-usual.

Detailed description

This is an individual-level, randomized control trial to rigorously evaluate the impact of the Peer Group Connection - Middle School (PGC-MS) intervention. Participant outcomes will be assessed using self-reported, individual-level data gathered using a structured questionnaire administered at four time points: baseline (fall semester of 6th or 7th grade); post-intervention (spring semester of 6th or 7th grade); four months post-intervention (fall semester of 7th or 8th grade); and sixteen months post-intervention (fall semester of 8th or 9th grade).

Conditions

• Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Peer Group Connection - Middle School (PGC-MS)	Peer Group Connection - Middle School (PGC-MS) is the treatment condition. PGC-MS is a school-based positive youth development program for students entering the transition year into middle school (6th or 7th grade). PGC-MS aims to improve school engagement and social-emotional learning skills that support adolescent health and educational outcomes for program participants. Participants receive 45-minute outreach sessions held 3 to 4 times per month for the full school year. Schools are expected to implement a minimum of 18 outreach sessions over the school year. PGC-MS outreach sessions are delivered by older peer leaders (8th, 9th, or 10th graders) who are carefully selected by faculty advisors and trained on how to deliver program content.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-09-01
• Primary completion: 2027-12-01
• Completion: 2028-09-14
• First posted: 2024-09-03
• Last updated: 2024-11-14

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States