IMPROVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF ADOLESCENTS THROUGH ENHANCEMENT OF APPROPRIATE SELF-HEALTH-CARE BEHAVIOR

THE GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO ENCOURAGE MORE APPROPRIATE USE OF MEDICAL SERVICES BY ADOLESCENTS. AN INTERACTIVE, COMPUTER SIMULATION WILL BE DEVELOPED TO ASSESS THE ABILITY OF TEENAGERS TO: (1) KNOW WHAT CONSTITUTES A HEALTHY LIFE STYLE, (2) DISTINGUISH BETWEEN HEALTH AND ILLNESS IN THEIR OWN BODY, (3) SELF-TREAT SYMPTOMS OF AN ILLNESS APPROPRIATELY, (4) RECOGNIZE WHEN PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ATTENTION IS NECESSARY, AND (5) ACCESS APPROPRIATE MEDICAL SERVICES. WHEN THE SIMULATION ASSESSMENT IDENTIFIES DEFICITS IN A TEEN'S SELF-HEALTH-CARE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, OR BEHAVIOR, THE SOFTWARE INTERVENTION WILL PRESENT CUSTOMIZED EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL FOR REMEDIATION. THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS APPROACH WILL BE TESTED IN PHASE I BY CREATING AND PILOT-TESTING ONE COMPUTER MODULE WITH FEMALE TEENS IN THE ADOLESCENT MEDICINE CLINIC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND IN BALTIMORE. THE SIMULATED ILLNESS SYMPTOMS FOR THIS INITIAL MODULE WILL ALSO SUGGEST THE PRESENCE OF A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE. THE MODULE WILLBE DEVELOPED FOR DELIVERY ON A MACINTOSH COMPUTER USING A MULTIMEDIA APPROACH INCORPORATING TEXT, GRAPHICS, AND AN ACCOMPANYING AUDIO TRACT.