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The Jack Trial

What did we work on?

ALPHA were involved in stage one of the Jack Trial. This involved intervention refinement and transferability of intervention acceptability outside of NI in the three other countries of the UK.

What is the purpose of the study?

The World Health Organisation and the authors of a number of systematic reviews recognise that teenage boys have a vital yet neglected role in reducing teenage pregnancies and that there is a pressing need for educational interventions designed especially for them.  Teenage girls who have an unplanned pregnancy can face emotional and practical problems as well as risks to their health. Teenage boys’ health and wellbeing can also be affected by unintended teenage pregnancy and young men have an important role to play in preventing it.

What did we do?

ALPHA joined other young people from each home nation for a weekend long residential. The aim of this residential meeting was to gather thoughts and feedback on the original “If I were Jack” Interactive Video Drama. The feedback from ALPHA and the other young people helped update the Interactive Video Drama to film two new videos which are more culturally relevant for today’s teenagers. The weekend included interactive focus groups, workshops and debates designed to gather qualitative data. These workshops were designed to encourage in-depth and thought provoking discussions and allowed each attendee to have their opinions and voices heard.   

What has happened since?

Since the residential the Jack Trial has moved onto stage two. This stage involves an NIHR-funded cluster randomised controlled trial in post primary schools across the UK with embedded process and health economic evaluation. Sixty-six post primary schools will participate, with schools as the unit of randomisation. Each participating pupil will be in the study for approximately 19 month and will be asked to complete a questionnaire – at baseline and 18 months later.