Factors associated with young adult engagement with a web-based sickle cell reproductive health intervention

To determine the factors predicting the engagement of young adults who have sickle cell disease (SCD) or sickle cell trait (SCT) with an online reproductive health education intervention and engagement effects on knowledge.

The cross-sectional study included 167 participants who completed the web-based intervention either face-to-face (F2F) or online delivery (OL). Measures include: time used relative to length of the intervention narration and media (engagement) and the SCKnowIQ questionnaire. Ordinal regression was conducted.

The sample mean age was 26-years (SD=5), 68% were female, 54% had SCD, and 68% were in the F2F group. Adjusting for age, partner sickle cell status, marital status, and education, participants who were female (p=.003), had SCD (p=.018), or had F2F delivery (p < .001) were more likely to spend more time on the intervention. Adjusting for baseline knowledge and modality, more time spent on the intervention was associated with higher posttest knowledge (p=.006).

Future studies are necessary to understand reasons underpinning engagement and to investigate other unmeasured factors, such as intervention interactivity elements, that could also be associated with engagement.

This study of young adults with SCD or SCT provides much needed insight about their engagement with online reproductive health education.