Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Article Title

Usability and Psychosocial Impact of Decision Support to Increase Sexual Health Education in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

Authors

Christine Markham, University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonFollow
Jennifer Torres, University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonFollow
Stephanie Craig Rushing PhD, MPH, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Portland, ORFollow
Gwenda Gorman BS, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., Phoenix, AZ.Follow
Cornelia Jessen MA, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AKFollow
Amanda Gaston MAT, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Portland, OR.Follow
Jennifer Williamson, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK.Follow
Robert C. Addy, University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonFollow
Susan R. Tortolero Emery, University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonFollow
Belinda Hernandez, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public HealthFollow
Melissa Peskin, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public HealthFollow
Ross Shegog, University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonFollow

Keywords

child/adolescent health; American Indian; Alaska Native; health education; sexual health; technology; program planning and evaluation

Disciplines

Curriculum and Instruction | Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Health and Physical Education | Indigenous Education | Teacher Education and Professional Development

Abstract

Despite sexual and reproductive health disparities, few evidence-based sexual health education programs exist for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, with even fewer tools available to assist AI/AN communities in adopting, implementing, and maintaining such programs. iCHAMPSS (Choosing And Maintaining effective Programs for Sex education in Schools) is a theory- and web-based decision-support-system designed to address dissemination barriers and increase the reach and fidelity of evidence-based programs (EBPs), specifically sexual health education programs. To investigate the potential of iCHAMPSS in AI/AN communities, we pilot-tested iCHAMPSS with adult stakeholders (N = 36) from agencies across the country that serve AI/AN communities. Stakeholders were recruited to review selected iCHAMPSS tools over two weeks in spring 2016. Pre- and post-surveys were administered to assess usability constructs, short-term psychosocial outcomes, and perceived feasibility. Data were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics. iCHAMPSS was perceived as acceptable, easy to use, credible, appealing, more helpful than current resources, and impactful of EBP adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Conversely, using iCHAMPSS significantly increased participants’ perceived barriers to adopting an EBP (p = 0.01). Overall, AI/AN stakeholders responded positively to iCHAMPSS, indicating the potential for adaptation to support the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based sexual health education in AI/AN communities.

Recommended Citation

Markham, Christine; Torres, Jennifer; Craig Rushing, Stephanie PhD, MPH; Gorman, Gwenda BS; Jessen, Cornelia MA; Gaston, Amanda MAT; Williamson, Jennifer; Addy, Robert C.; Tortolero Emery, Susan R.; Hernandez, Belinda; Peskin, Melissa; and Shegog, Ross (2018) "Usability and Psychosocial Impact of Decision Support to Increase Sexual Health Education in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities," Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice: Vol. 11: Iss. 1, Article 7.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jhdrp/vol11/iss1/7