The JACK Trial: multi-site cluster randomised trial of sex education
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The JACK Trial: A multi-site cluster randomised trial of an interactive film-based intervention to reduce teenage pregnancy and promote positive sexual health
IRAS ID
246450
Contact name
Maria Lohan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Queen's University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
This project will investigate whether ‘If I were Jack’, a programme designed to be delivered in secondary schools will prevent unintended teenage pregnancies.
The UK has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Western Europe, but little is known about how to reduce this. We will address this gap by testing one of the few programmes available internationally which explicitly targets boys (as well as girls) to raise their awareness and improve their communication skills in order to avoid teenage pregnancies.
Developed with scientific experts, government bodies, relationship & sexuality education experts, pupils and teachers in Northern Ireland. One of its unique characteristics is that it starts off with an interactive film which brings to life a week in the life of Jack, a young man whose girlfriend has just told him she is pregnant. We have already shown that the film drama and four-week programme helps to make the message real for boys and girls and helps them to think about avoiding unintended pregnancy, but need to find out if this leads to changes in behaviour that might prevent teenage pregnancies.
We will do a cluster randomised trial, where we will compare the results of using the programme amongst pupils aged 14 in 33 schools against the results for pupils of the same age in 33 comparable schools where normal practice continues. First, we’ll survey students. Then, an independent group will randomly decide which schools will deliver the programme and which schools won’t. A year after the programme has been delivered by trained teachers in half of the schools, we will go back to all the schools to do a second questionnaire to find out if the pupils’ behaviours, as well as their knowledge and attitudes, have changed. We will know if the programme is effective if fewer pupils who used it tell us that they have had unprotected sex than those who did not access it. We will also examine the financial costs and benefits of using the programme and interview pupils and teachers to gather their opinions on how it worked.REC name
N/A
REC reference
N/A