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TerminatedNCT03429985FRRMUpdated Aug 25, 2023

Fathers Raising Responsible Men (FRRM): Addressing Sexual Health

An interventional study of FRRM Intervention in Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms, sponsored by Duke University. Terminated at 1 site in United States. Open to male participants aged 15 Years to 19 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-08-25.

Sponsored by Duke University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

Why this study was terminated
In response to the COVID pandemic, and in accordance with local and university public health restrictions, our team suspended the study. This disrupted all planned follow-up activities. With funder approval, we pivoted our project to a non-RCT design
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
382
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
15 Years to 19 Years
Sex
Male
01

Study summary

While existing teen pregnancy prevention efforts have contributed to significant declines in the overall U.S. teen pregnancy rate, teen pregnancy prevention programs specifically targeting adolescent males are limited and sorely needed. The primary aim of the proposed research is to further develop, evaluate, and disseminate a teen pregnancy prevention program specifically designed for adolescent males to enhance the current scientific evidence and intervention options available for broad public health implementation. The proposed intervention Fathers Raising Responsible Men (FRRM) focuses on the adolescent male component of teen pregnancy by identifying and addressing adolescent risk and paternal protective behaviors specific to adolescent males that have not been fully addressed in previous prevention efforts. This study strives to reduce adolescent male sexual risk behavior through targeting African American and Latino adolescent males aged 15-19 and their fathers residing in the South Bronx, specifically Mott Haven and surrounding areas in three phases. Phase I is a pilot study consisting of eight dyads (fathers and sons) to test and refine the intervention and technical and training assistance needs. Phase II is the Randomized Control Trial (RCT) comprised of two cohorts (a total of 500 father-son dyads) to rigorously evaluate the intervention. During the final 6 months of the project, qualitative interviews with 30 father-son dyads will be conducted to triangulate the quantitative RCT results with participant experiences of FRRM. Finally, in Phase III the intervention will be refined and the intervention materials will be available to the general public, while findings will be widely disseminated. These three phases allow for the successful implementation and evaluation of FRRM in conjunction with the refinement and provision of all training and technical assistance necessary for the intervention. If successful, the proposed project will further develop the current scientific evidence and intervention options targeted specifically to the teen pregnancy prevention needs of African American and Latino adolescent males.

Read the detailed description

FRRM is a male-focused intervention designed to reduce adolescent male sexual risk behavior through supporting father-son communication about sex and condoms, as well as improve future life trajectories. The goals of the program are to reduce the number of unprotected sex acts among adolescents through (1) improved knowledge about correct and consistent condom use, (2) increased sexual transmitted infection (STI) testing, and (3) increased utilization of sexual and reproductive health services. Additionally, the program aims to improve adolescent life opportunities through (1) improved perception of life trajectories; and (2) increased utilization of academic and job training services within the community.

The RCT consists of two cohorts. The first cohort (n=200 father-son dyads) will receive (1) two 60 to 90 minute intervention sessions delivered to the father by project staff. Intervention sessions should happen within the first month following the baseline interview. The first intervention session focuses on motivating fathers to communicate with their sons about sex and condom use, and the second session provides fathers with the skills and knowledge necessary to teach their sons about correct condom use. In addition, fathers receive guidance on effective adolescent monitoring and supervision and strengthening their relationship quality with their adolescent son.

The second cohort (n=300 father-son dyads) will receive (1) two 60 to 90 minute intervention sessions delivered to the father by project staff with content identical to the interventions given to cohort one; and 2) one 60 to 90 minute intervention session delivered to the father-son dyad by project staff regarding adolescent life opportunities. In the third intervention session, the father coach provides father-son dyads with specific guidance and helpful resources for on-going and positive interactions between fathers and sons. Additionally, this session highlights specific academic and job training resources within the community that fathers and sons can access to better address adolescent sexual and reproductive health, overall wellbeing, and future goals/aspirations.

02

Conditions studied

  • Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms

Keywords

  • Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Parent-based Intervention
  • Sexual Risk Behavior
  • Adolescent Males
  • Father-Son Intervention
  • Life Opportunities
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
15 Years to 19 Years
Sexes eligible
Male
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

To be eligible for the study, adolescent sons must:

  1. be 15 to 19 year old male,
  2. identify as either African American or Latino,
  3. reside in one of the four target neighborhoods in the South Bronx, and
  4. not be a teen father, married, or co-habitating with his partner.

Eligible fathers must:

  1. be the primary caregiver who is male of the target son (this can include biological fathers, grandfathers, and uncles).
  2. Reside in Mott Haven or surrounding areas of the South Bronx or other parts of New York City; able to meet with son at son's primary residence or mutually agreed-upon location.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Both fathers and sons must not be participating in any other teen pregnancy prevention program at the start of the study.

04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
382 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    FRRM Intervention

    The experimental arm will receive the FRRM intervention.

    Behavioral: FRRM Intervention

  • No intervention
    Control

    The control arm will not receive the FRRM intervention.

Interventions

  • BehavioralFRRM Intervention

    Fathers Raising Responsible Men (FRRM) is designed to facilitate important paternal parenting behaviors that influence adolescent decision-making. FRRM incorporates a novel, theoretically-based intervention highlighting the important and influential role that fathers have on the development and life trajectories of adolescent males.

    Also known as: FRRM

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Unprotected Sex Acts Among Adolescent Males

    Defined as number of sex acts without using a contraceptive method

    Time frame: Delayed follow up (9 months)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Adolescent Consistency of Condom Use: As Measured by the Condom Use Among Hispanics Scale

    Defined as frequency of adolescent condom use during sex acts

    Time frame: Delayed follow up (9 months)

  2. Adolescent Frequency of Sex Acts

    Defined as number of sex acts within a time period

    Time frame: Delayed follow up (9 months)

  3. Adolescent Knowledge of Correct Condom Use: As Measured by the Condom Use Among Hispanics Scale

    Defined as adolescent knowledge of the correct steps of using a condom, with higher scores indicating greater knowledge of the five steps of condom use.

    Time frame: Delayed follow up (9 months)

  4. Adolescent Attendance at Sexual and Reproductive Health Service

    Defined as adolescent report of having attended a sexual and reproductive health visit

    Time frame: Delayed follow up (9 months)

  5. Adolescent HIV Testing Results

    Defined as the prevalence of HIV at follow-up

    Time frame: Delayed follow up (9 months)

  6. Adolescent Gonorrhea Testing Results

    Defined as the prevalence of gonorrhea at follow-up

    Time frame: Delayed follow up (9 months)

  7. Adolescent Chlamydia Testing Results

    Defined as the prevalence of chlamydia at follow-up

    Time frame: Delayed follow up (9 months)

  8. Adolescent Attendance at Job Training Services

    Defined as adolescent report of having attended a job training services visit

    Time frame: Delayed follow up (9 months)

  9. Adolescent Attendance at Educational Support Services

    Defined as adolescent report of having attended an educational support services visit

    Time frame: Delayed follow up (9 months)

  10. Adolescent Attendance at Wraparound Services

    Defined as adolescent report of having attended a wraparound services visit

    Time frame: Delayed follow up (9 months)

  11. Adolescent Perception of Future Academic and Career Success: As Measured by the Perceived Life Chances Scale

    Defined as adolescent report of their perceived likelihood of achieving future goals and aspirations, with higher scores indicating greater perceived likelihood of achieving long-term goals.

    Time frame: Delayed follow up (9 months)

  12. Number of Unprotected Sex Acts Among Adolescent Males

    Defined as number of sex acts without using a contraceptive method

    Time frame: Immediate follow up (3 months)

  13. Adolescent Consistency of Condom Use: As Measured by the Condom Use Among Hispanics Scale

    Defined as the proportion of total sex acts where a condom was used, with higher scores indicating a greater percentage of condom use.

    Time frame: Immediate follow up (3 months)

  14. Adolescent Frequency of Sex Acts

    Defined as number of sex acts within a time period

    Time frame: Immediate follow up (3 months)

  15. Adolescent Knowledge of Correct Condom Use: As Measured by the Condom Use Among Hispanics Scale

    Defined as adolescent knowledge of the correct steps of using a condom, with higher scores indicating greater knowledge of the five steps of condom use.

    Time frame: Immediate follow up (3 months)

  16. Adolescent Attendance at Sexual and Reproductive Health Services

    Defined as adolescent report of having attended a sexual and reproductive health visit

    Time frame: Immediate follow up (3 months)

  17. Adolescent HIV Testing Results

    Defined as the prevalence of HIV at follow-up

    Time frame: Immediate follow up (3 months)

  18. Adolescent Gonorrhea Testing Results

    Defined as the prevalence of gonorrhea at follow-up

    Time frame: Immediate follow up (3 months)

  19. Adolescent Chlamydia Testing Results

    Defined as the prevalence of chlamydia at follow-up

    Time frame: Immediate follow up (3 months)

06

Study locations

1 site
  • Duke University School of Nursing
    New York, New York 10017, United States
07

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03429985
Lead sponsor
Duke University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 12, 2018
Start date
Jan 3, 2018
Primary completion
Mar 20, 2020
Completion
Mar 20, 2020
Last update
Aug 25, 2023

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
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