Overview of the Plain Talk Data Collection System

Sarabeth Shreffler, MPH, CHESProgram Officer, Plain Talk

ProgramPublic/Private Ventures

The Purpose of Data Collection

To answer 2 Questions:Is the program working as intended?Why is this the case?

To improve and refine the programTo serve as a decision-making tool

for planners, policy makers, and program funders

Goals of Plain Talk1) To create a consensus among parents and

adults about the need to protect sexually active youth through encouraging early and consistent use of contraceptives;

2) To give parents and other community adults the information and skills they need to communicate more effectively with adolescents about responsible sexual behavior; and

3) To improve adolescent access to quality, age-appropriate and readily available reproductive health care, including contraception.

Plain Talk Formula for Success

Education + Communication + Access to Contraceptives

= Fewer unwanted pregnancies and

STDs

Plain Talk Staff Confidentiality

Site Directors, program coordinators, Walkers & Talkers, and volunteers must all sign a Confidentiality agreement in which they pledge to not discuss private information of any and all Plain Talk participants and staff members.

Purpose is to help ensure confidentiality and safety of participants which in turn helps establish trust between participants and staff.

Plain Talk Participant Consent

Informed consent of each Plain Talk participant is necessary before taking part in ANY type of data collection process.

This includes anything from Community Mapping surveys and Home Health Parties to having photographs of them taken.

Plain Talk Data Collection

Both process and outcome data is being collected continuously over the 3 year program cycle.

Planning StageCommunity Mapping StageHome Health Party and Walkers &

Talkers Stage

Planning Stage

Data Collection Tools:Community Demographics FormSelection of neighborhoods and random

sampling strategy is set

Community Demographics Form

Purpose:To establish a baseline profile of the

Plain Talk Community

Key Points of Measurement:Socio-economic statusAdolescent sexual health status (pregnancy rates, live birth rates, STD rates)

Community Mapping Stage

Data Collection Tools:Volunteer/Walker & Talker Intake FormAdult Survey Adolescent Survey Service Site SurveyPhysician surveysInventory of Sources for Non-

Prescription Contraceptives Survey

Volunteer and Walkers & Talkers Intake Form

Purpose:To establish a baseline profile for

each person who is a volunteer for the Plain Talk program

Key Points of Measurement:Demographic informationReading, writing, and speaking skills

Adult SurveyPurpose:To better understand the thoughts and

opinions of adults in the community

Key Points of Measurement:How adults feel about adolescent sexual

health and sexuality in their community Whether they feel comfortable talking to

teens about sex If they know where teens can go to get

information about sex

Adolescent Survey

Purpose:To better understand the thoughts and

opinions of adolescents in the community

Key Points of Measurement:How teens feel about sexWhom they feel comfortable talking to

about sex Where they go to get information about sex

Physician Survey and Service Site Survey

Purpose: To learn about health care services offered

to the community as well as the access to contraceptives

Key Points of Measurement: Health care services offered Demographics of patients Physician’s and health care staff’s thoughts

and opinions regarding adolescent sexual health

Inventory of Sources for Non-Prescription Contraceptives

SurveyPurpose: To better understand where

contraceptives are made available in the community

Key Points of Measurement:Available contraceptivesPrices of contraceptivesHelpfulness of clerks and/or staff

Home Health Party and Walkers & Talkers Stage

Data Collection Tools:Volunteer/Walker & Talker Update

FormHome Health Party FormsCommunity Forum ReportsPre/Post TestsInterviews, focus groups, staff

observations, photos

Volunteer and Walkers & Talkers Update Form

Purpose:To update and keep current the

profile of the volunteer/Walker & Talker

Key Points of Measurement:AttendanceLevel of involvement/ParticipationTraining progression

Home Health Party Form

Purpose:To establish a baseline profile for

each Home Health Party

Key Points of Measurement:Location of Home Health PartyTopics coveredDemographics of participants

Community Forum Report

Purpose:To disseminate results of the Community

Mapping and/or present special sexual health topics to larger Plain Talk community gatherings.

Key Points of Measurement:Location of Community ForumTopics covered during forumDemographics of participants

Pre/Post Tests for Data Collection

Pregnancy Prevention Pre/Post Test STDs and HIV/AIDS Pre/Post Test

Purpose: To assess the breadth of sexual

health material each participant learned from the Home Health Parties

Plain Talk Participant and Staff Qualitative Feedback

Staff online journals to record observations of the Plain Talk implementation process

Interviews with staffFocus groups

Online JournalsThe purpose of the online journal is to

record the implementation and maintenance of the Plain Talk program in each community.

Sites are to record: Experiences, observations, and interactions during Plain

Talk community events and the distribution of survey results.

Experiences, observations, and interactions during volunteers/Walkers & Talkers' surveying of the Plain Talk community.

Experiences, observations, and interactions during Home Health parties.

Observations, experiences, and feedback from the Plain Talk program site staff.

Any other observations, interactions, or experiences involving the community response (i.e. openness to Plain Talk, willingness to participate, interest in survey results, etc.).

Focus Groups The purpose of focus groups are to evaluate:

Adults who have participated in Plain TalkAdolescents who have participated in Plain TalkAdults and/or teens who have participated in

Home Health Parties

Video and/or audio tapes will be used to record exactly what is said in the focus group as well as examine facial expressions, body language, and group dynamics so that all major discussion points offered by the participants will be recorded.

However, prior to analyzing, using, and sharing any focus group information with any other researchers, the focus group transcription will be stripped of any personal information (such as name, birth date, and address)

Other Ideas: Qualitative Data

Brawley, CA is using focus groups to gather additional information as well as help secure federal grant money.

St. Paul, MN is developing a “Plain Talk PLUS” to analyze different effects of participants attending additional Plain Talk sessions on topics such as peer pressure and dating violence.

New Orleans used an ethnographer during the Plain Talk demonstration phase

Naranjito, PR is currently using an ethnographer

Plain Talk website

www.plaintalk.org