[ACCESS TO AN ONLINE EDUCATIONAL MODULE ON SEXUAL HEALTH FOR LATINO/A ADOLESCENTS]. / ACCESIBILIDAD DE UN MÓDULO EDUCATIVO EN LÍNEA SOBRE SALUD SEXUAL PARA ADOLESCENTES LATINOS/AS.

Project Cuídalos aimed to test the efficacy of a web-based intervention aiming to increase communication on sexual health topics between parents and adolescents in the Puerto Rican population. To achieve this goal, we implemented a longitudinal experimental design which examined whether the intervention would impact communication about sexuality between the participants (N=1,320). Parents completed a web-based interactive module in recruitment centers throughout Puerto Rico. Afterwards, parents could revisit the web-based workshop on their own. The process of accessing the workshop proved to be challenging. To explore why, we expanded our design and incorporated a qualitative component that included semi-structured telephone interviews to 23 randomly selected participants. After transcribing the interviews, we conducted a content analysis from which six thematic categories emerged: 1) perceived impact of the module in the parent-adolescent relationship, 2) communication between research team and parents, 3) platform to access the module, 4) assistance to complete the module, 5) remote access to the module, and 6) changes to the module for future implementations. Our findings will allow us to refine our intervention and offer recommendations to similar efforts using the Internet to increase their impact.

Development and psychometric properties of the evidence-based professional practice scale (EBPP-S).

OBJECTIVE: Evidence based-practice (EBP) is now being integrated into many systems of health care. To date, little research has been conducted in Puerto Rico regarding EBP. A brief measure of health provider for Evidence Based Professional Practice-Scale (EBPP-S) was developed to measure attitudes, behaviors and knowledge. METHODS: The study consisted in two phases. In the first phase the scale was developed and exploratory factor analyses (EFA) were conducted (n = 65). In the second phase, the EFA model was tested in another sample (n = 86) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Both samples were drawn from mental health service providers. RESULTS: Three factors of the EBPP-S were identified in the first phase (1) attitudes, (2) behaviors, and (3) knowledge. The internal reliability for the 43-item scale using the Cronbach's a was .93. The principal dimensions of the scale were analyzed using a CFA. A three-factor model with 17 items was supported by the data. The results showed an internal consistency of .88 for the 17-item version of the scale. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results for the EBPP-S are promising and the use of this scale to measure evidence based-practice is discussed.