Question

Glenda R. is a parish nurse for Holy Cross Catholic Church. The church’s youth group teacher has overheard several of the 13- and 14-year-old teenagers talking about dating and sexual behaviors. The youth group teacher invites the parish nurse to speak to the group about sex and abstinence. Nurse Glenda sends letters to the parents describing when she will speak to the group about these topics and what will be discussed. Parents who would like their child to attend this class are asked to fill out the permission form.

On the night of the class, 18 of the 20 youth group members arrive for the class with their consent forms in hand. The room is set up with chairs in a circle and a computer with projector next to Nurse Glenda’s chair. Using pictures on the computer, Nurse Glenda illustrates the basic anatomy of the reproductive system and discusses what should be expected during puberty. Most of the class time is then spent discussing reasons for abstinence, how to know when you are ready for sex, and how to say no if you are not.

A confidential question box passed around for students to submit any questions they have about sex. Each student is asked to write something on a piece of paper, even if it is not a question or a comment, and to place it inside the box. Nurse Glenda reviews the papers and answers questions at the end of the class.

An open forum where students raise their hands and ask questions. Nurse Glenda responds appropriately.

A survey completed at the end of the class that students give to Nurse Glenda as they leave.

Questions

1. Which teaching intervention designed to gather questions and feedback about the lesson would be most effective for this age group?
2. After the class has been given, Nurse Glenda talks to the parents and the church’s religious education teacher. Nurse Glenda believes that she can do more with this age group and would like to offer her services to them. She suggests that an evening of preventive screenings should be offered. What should Nurse Glenda screen for in this group of teenagers?
3. How can Nurse Glenda use interactive health communication (IHC) to reinforce the lesson?

Answer 1

Q1. Which teaching intervention designed to gather questions and feedback about the lesson would be most effective for this age group?

• In the above mentioned scenario Nurse Glenda can adopt the teaching intervention of Group discussion, here Nurse Glenda can act as a leader and the group can contribute their points. It begins with announcement of the topic, which is followed by preparation time of 3-5 minutes. In that time they can prepare for the questions. After that they can go for detailed discussion and get the feedback.

Q2. What should Nurse Glenda screen for in this group of teenagers?

Preventive screening for sex and abstinence

Knowledge about Preventive Screening in sex is very important to prevent most of the sexually transmitted diseases in humans. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that routine assessment is necessary for the identification of STD's like Gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV etc.

Use of preventive screening of sex include;

• Explained about the protection before and after sex like use of condoms, proper disposal of condom after sex.
• Get test, along with your partner before having sex.
• Avoid the sex under the influence of drug or alcohol.
• Get vaccinated

Preventive screen of sex

• counselling about the risk and preventive strategies of diseases
• Periodical HIV serological testing
• Vaginal and rectal screening
• Immunization against Hepatitis A & B
• Obtain anal or vaginal pap smear every 2 to 3 years
• Evaluate the risk factors
• Consider pharyngeal culture for gonorrhea
• Perform serological test for syphilis
• screen for psychosocial problems.
• Periodical cervical and prostrate cancer screening is necessary
• Breast cancer screening

Advantages of abstinence

Sexual abstinence is a practice of restraining oneself from indulging is sex.

• abstinence is a most effective way to avoid getting sexually transmitted diseases.
• Abstinence is the only form of birth control that always helps to prevent pregnancies
• teens who practice the abstinence are less likely to experience physically or emotionally abusive relationship.
• Teens who practice abstinence and is in romantic romantic, does not misuse the partner for sex instead of that he or she will understand the partner properly.
• Teens who follow abstinence in sex can understand the person or a relationship properly.
• According to the studies by American Journal of Health, abstinence may help the students to do better in schools.

Q3. How can Nurse Glenda use interactive health communication (IHC) to reinforce the lesson?

Interactive health communication is help is study and practice of promotional and health information such in public health campaign, health education etc. It purpose is improving the health literacy of the public.

In this scenario Nurse Glenda use IHC to;

• Increase the teenagers knowledge about the sex and abstinence.
• understand influence the behaviour and attitude of teenagers about sex and abstinence
• demonstrates the healthy practices
• demonstrate the benefits
• advocate the teenagers about the sex and abstinence
• argue about the misconceptions.

Interactive health communications are computer based, usual web based, information packages for the need people that combines health information with atleast one or more social support or behaviour change support. Here nurse Glenda reinforce the lesson with the help of IHC with computer with projector for illustration and showing pictures. and taken lectures about the basic anatomy reproductive system and stages of puberty etc.

The use of computer in education are increasingly using in this modern mechanical world and it is an integral part of the education and health care delivery system.

• IHC can help to illustrate the lesson to the teenagers easily with the help of graphics and pictures.
• It helps to create areal situation in the class room
• It enhance the creativity and thinking skills
• It process the data quickly
• Audio-visual in it helps in teaching process for a viable learning