Comparing Virtual and In-Person Implementation of a School-Based Sexual Health Promotion Program in High Schools with...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Health Promotion

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid transition of sexual health programs to virtual formats.
• This shift offered a unique opportunity to compare virtual and in-person program delivery.
• The El Camino program, focused on positive youth development, sexual reproductive health, and healthy relationships, was evaluated in this context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and compare virtual versus in-person implementation of the El Camino sexual health promotion program.
• To evaluate differences in program attendance, engagement, quality, and student ratings.
• To understand the effectiveness of virtual adaptations in high schools with high Latino populations.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating data from performance measures, surveys, observations, and facilitator reports.
• The study compared virtual and in-person cohorts of the El Camino program.
• Participants were high school students (average age 16.2) in Maryland, with a significant proportion identifying as Hispanic/Latino and speaking Spanish at home.

Main Results:

• Recruitment and retention posed challenges for both virtual and in-person implementations.
• In-person implementation showed higher attendance, particularly in schools with pre-existing program presence.
• Both virtual and in-person cohorts demonstrated high fidelity, excellent quality ratings, and positive student perceptions.

Conclusions:

• Both virtual and in-person implementations of the El Camino program were comparable in quality and student perception.
• The virtual adaptation of the El Camino program proved to be strong and effective.
• Findings suggest that virtual delivery can be a viable and successful modality for sexual health promotion programs.