Name: Peggy O'Hara Murdock and Christopher McClure
Type of Session: Presentation
Preferred Track: 2 - Beyond Knowledge Acquisition
Abstract: The Multimedia Approach to Pregnancy Prevention (MAPP) Project is a expert intelligence multimedia program administered in outpatient and inpatient clinics in the University of Miami School of Medicine and Jackson's Children's Hospital, Miami Florida. A team of experts (educators, physicians, psychologists & computer scientists with multimedia expertise) from the University of Miami and Middle Tennessee State University have developed and are currently implementing and evaluating the MAPP project. The target population for the program is youths ,aged 9-14 years,diagnosed with chronic illnesses. These youths represent an urban population of predominantly minority youth - African American and Hispanic. Program sessions take place in the medical clinic setting, using a portable, multimedia based expert intelligence computer program with supplemental handouts for youths and their parents. The program is evaluated by examining differences between a treatment and control group with respect to differences in knowledge about their illness and its effects on pregnancy, attitudes about pregnancy, and intentions to remain sexually abstinent.
Program Description: The Multimedia Approach to Pregnancy Prevention (MAPP) Project is a expert intelligence multimedia program administered in both outpatient and inpatient medical clinics in the University of Miami School of Medicine and Jackson's Children's Hospital, in Miami Florida.
A team of educators, physicians, psychologists and computer scientists with multimedia expertise have developed and are currently implementing and evaluating this project. The target population for the program are youths diagnosed with asthma, diabetes, and sickle cell disease; they represent an urban population of predominantly minority youth - African American and Hispanic.
Program sessions take place in the medical clinic setting, using a portable, multimedia based expert intelligence computer program with supplemental handouts for youths and their parents. The program is being evaluated in two groups of youth who attend medical care clinics, 100 of whom are randomly assigned to the MAPP program and 50 assigned to a control, Standard Care condition receiving print materials and regular physician advice only. Changes that occur pre-post in knowledge, attitudes about abstinence, increases in communication with parents and medical clinic staff, and changes in behavioral intention to remain abstinent are measured between the two groups. After receiving informed consent from parents and youths, those assigned to the intervention group complete three computerized modules that engage youths in games, exercises and decision making activities. The modules incorporate animation and use of video clips, featuring other youths as "actors" with similar concerns about chronic illness and relationship issues.
The program addresses a target audience that has been largely overlooked and underserved. Using interactive technology with this population has a number of advantages, including: (1). ease & practicality of use ( 2). interactive nature - incorporates the use of audio, visual and kinesthetic cues for all children's learning styles, and (3) confidentiality- the youths are able to learn about sensitive subject matter in a manner that is confidential, accurate and non-judgmental. Once developed,the computerized approach is cost-effective for replication in a variety of settings. Counselors, psychologists, medical clinic staff, school nurses and teachers of chronically ill youths may find the MAPP program beneficial for instruction and a tool to open up communication regarding health issues.
In this conference session we will present the steps of technology development, the process of ensuring confidentiality, methods of data collection and preliminary data showing the effectiveness of this instructional tool.
Length: 30-45 min. presentation
Audience: General
Audience Level: ALL
On-Site Equipment Requirements: LCD Projector
Contact Information: Peggy O'Hara Murdock, PhD Professor, HPERS Middle Tennessee State University PO Box 96 Murfreesboro, TN 37132 Telephone: 615 904-8358 Fax: 615 898-5020 Pohara@frank.mtsu.edu Christopher McClure, (MPH) University of Miami School of Medicine Department of Epidemiology & Public Health PO Box 016069 (R-669) Miami, FL 33101-6069
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