Currently submitted to: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Sep 7, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Sep 9, 2026 - Nov 4, 2026
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Interdisciplinary collaboration for young adult sexual health education: a scoping review protocol
ABSTRACT
Background:
Sexual health is a fundamental aspect of health, especially during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. This developmental period spans from 10–25 years and is characterized by sexual health challenges such as high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Inconsistent sexual health education across the United States contributes to gaps in knowledge regarding safer practices, consent, and sexual identity. Vulnerable populations, such as college students and LGBTQ+ individuals, face compounded risks from sexual assault and substance use.
Objective:
This scoping review aims to map and characterize interdisciplinary sexual health education programs for young adults (aged 18 years and older) in the United States and to summarize their reported impact on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward safer sex practices. By synthesizing the range of existing programs, the review will inform recommendations to improve the accessibility and consistency of sexual health education.
Methods:
Eligible studies focus on young adult sexual health programs with interdisciplinary collaboration (including medicine, social work, psychology, nursing, and dentistry). Studies will be limited to those published in English within the United States. Five electronic databases, namely PubMed, Embase, ERIC, APA PsycInfo, and CINAHL will be searched for published reports. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts. The reviewers will then assess the full texts selected. In both cases, disagreements will be discussed with a third reviewer and consensus will be achieved. Data analysis will be descriptive with a narrative summary.
Results:
The protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework in 2025, and database searches were completed on November 10, 2024. The searches identified 3,379 records; after removal of 312 duplicates, 3,067 records were screened, 53 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, and 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction and charting are underway, and the narrative synthesis of findings is expected to be completed in 2026. Dissemination through peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations is anticipated in 2027.
Conclusions:
By characterizing the disciplines, delivery settings, content, and reported outcomes of interdisciplinary sexual health education programs, this review will provide a foundation for developing more coordinated, equitable, and evidence-based approaches for young adults. Because the study analyzes previously published data and does not involve human participants, institutional ethical review is not required. Clinical Trial: Open Science Framework; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/DJC82
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