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. 2014 Oct;27(5):e103-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2013.08.004. Epub 2013 Dec 12.

Strategies for conducting adolescent health research in the clinical setting: the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center HPV experience

Debra K Braun-Courville  1 , Nicolas F Schlecht  2 , Robert D Burk  3 , Howard D Strickler  2 , Mary Rojas  4 , Elizabeth Lorde-Rollins  5 , Anne Nucci-Sack  5 , Dominic Hollman  5 , L Oriana Linares  5 , Angela Diaz  5
Affiliations

Strategies for conducting adolescent health research in the clinical setting: the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center HPV experience

Debra K Braun-Courville et al. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Clinical research with adolescents can be challenging due to issues of informed consent, parental involvement, institutional review board requirements, and adolescent psychosocial development. These requirements present a dilemma, particularly in the area of sexual health research, as adolescents are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV). To successfully conduct adolescent research in the clinical setting, one requires an awareness of state statutes regarding adolescent confidentiality and consent for medical care, and a close partnership with the IRB.

Case study: In 2007, the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center in collaboration with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine developed a longitudinal research study to examine the natural history of oral, cervical, and anal HPV in an adolescent female population engaged in high-risk sexual behaviors. We use this research project as a case study to explore the ethical, methodological, and clinical issues related to conducting adolescent health research.

Summary and conclusions: Several strategies were identified to promote adolescent study participation, including: (1) building a research team that is motivated to work with adolescents; (2) combining research and patient care visits to avoid duplication of services; and (3) establishing a personalized communication network with participants. Using these methods, adolescent sexual health research can successfully be integrated into the clinical setting. While retaining a prospective cohort of adolescents has its challenges, a persistent and multi-disciplinary approach can help improve recruitment, sustain participation, and acquire critical data that will lead to improved healthcare knowledge applicable to understudied populations of adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescent Research; Human Papillomavirus; Institutional Review Boards; Parental Consent; Sexual and Reproductive Health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest:

Dr. Schlecht has served in the past as an advisory board member for Merck and Glaxo-Smith Klein. Dr Strickler has served in the past as an advisory board member for Glaxo-Smith Klein. The remaining authors do not have a commercial or other association that might pose a conflict of interest.

References

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