In the U.S, teen males, especially older and minority adolescent males, engage in sexual risk behaviors that result in reproductive problems among adolescents of both genders, including sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. Efforts to promote safe sexual behaviors have been shown to be effective to prevent such morbidity and should start ideally during adolescence. Practice guidelines recommend that clinicians promote reproductive health among all adolescents, such as screening and counseling about sex and its consequences. Current efforts however target primarily females. We know very little about how to effectively promote reproductive health for males or how males think about their reproductive health needs. This is especially relevant since boys' use of health care declines during adolescence, which can ultimately result in unmet health needs. The ultimate goal of this study is to better understand adolescent males' perceived reproductive health needs in context of their general needs and identify those factors that are amenable to change in order to inform the development of adolescent male reproductive health intervention programs. The candidate is a pediatrician and specialist in adolescent medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) who has conducted preliminary research on adolescent males. The training phase of the award will include 5 activities: 1) to learn how to develop study measures for behavioral research, 2) to develop further skills in data collection, including semi-structured patient-oriented interviews, 3) to learn how to design and analyze longitudinal studies, 4) to develop skills in the responsible conduct of research, and 5) to refine skills in presenting, publishing and grant writing. These objectives will be accomplished through mentored research activities, and complemented by focused coursework available through an existing UMB K30 award for training of clinical investigators. The research phase of the award includes a description of adolescent males' (ages 12-19) actual and perceived reproductive health needs, reproductive health care use, predictors of care use, and reproductive health morbidity by using an existing dataset and primary data collection. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health, Aim 1 of this study is to determine the extent to which adolescent males have reproductive health needs and the factors that predict reproductive health care use. Using primary data collection and analysis among adolescent males, parents and clinical experts, Aim 2 of this study is to explore adolescent males' perceived general and reproductive health needs and experiences with the health care system. Upon completion of this award, the candidate will become a rigorous behavioral scientist informed by his clinical orientation and enrich our understanding of domestic adolescent males' reproductive health and mechanisms by which to increase their access to clinical reproductive services.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23HD047547-06
Application #
7462444
Study Section
Pediatrics Subcommittee (CHHD)
Program Officer
Newcomer, Susan
Project Start
2004-08-01
Project End
2010-07-31
Budget Start
2008-08-01
Budget End
2010-07-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$125,680
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Marcell, Arik V; Ellen, Jonathan M (2012) Core sexual/reproductive health care to deliver to male adolescents: perceptions of clinicians focused on male health. J Adolesc Health 51:38-44
Marcell, Arik V; Matson, Pam; Ellen, Jonathan M et al. (2011) Annual physical examination reports vary by gender once teenagers become sexually active. J Adolesc Health 49:47-52
Marcell, Arik V; Eftim, Sorina E; Sonenstein, Freya L et al. (2011) Associations of Family and Peer Experiences with Masculinity Attitude Trajectories at the Individual and Group Level in Adolescent and Young Adult Males. Men Masc 14:
Marcell, Arik V; Bell, David L; Lindberg, Laura D et al. (2010) Prevalence of sexually transmitted infection/human immunodeficiency virus counseling services received by teen males, 1995-2002. J Adolesc Health 46:553-9
Marcell, Arik V; Ford, Carol A; Pleck, Joseph H et al. (2007) Masculine beliefs, parental communication, and male adolescents'health care use. Pediatrics 119:e966-75
Marcell, Arik V; Halpern-Felsher, Bonnie L (2007) Adolescents'beliefs about preferred resources for help vary depending on the health issue. J Adolesc Health 41:61-8
Marcell, Arik V; Halpern-Felsher, Bonnie L (2005) Adolescents' health beliefs are critical in their intentions to seek physician care. Prev Med 41:118-25
Marcell, Arik V; Plowden, Keith; Bowman, Shameeka M (2005) Exploring older adolescents' and young adults' attitudes regarding male hormonal contraception: applications for clinical practice. Hum Reprod 20:3078-84