JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Today's digitalized world poses new challenges for adolescents and simultaneously offers innovative opportunities for prevention efforts. However, research on interventions that utilize social media to promote adolescent health is scarce.

Objective:

Therefore, the digital prevention program "leduin" was developed which uses social media to teach (digital) life skills. It is a novel approach to setting-based prevention, as it interlinks school- and leisure time-based approaches. This study protocol describes the planned evaluation of the program "leduin", with a focus on external validity.

Methods:

Based on the RE-AIM model, the evaluation will investigate the dimensions of (1) reach, (2) effectiveness, (3) acceptance, (4) implementation, and (5) maintenance of "leduin" via a pre-, post- and follow-up design with adolescents (14-17 years of age) from six German federal states. In addition to the study region (e.g., state), the recruitment will also differentiate three types of recruitment strategies (i.e., via schools, youth centers, and therapeutic facilities) to allow for comparisons across settings. Data comprises individual and organizational data regarding participation, implementation, and completion of the program, quantitative student surveys on life skills, risk behavior, and mental health. Data will be analyzed using multilevel regression models, qualitative content analysis, and will be triangulated following an embedded mixed methods research frame.

Results:

Recruitment for the study has started in May 2023 and will continue until September 2023 when the leduin-program will start.

Conclusions:

This study explores the innovative potential of prevention through the teaching of skills in social media, with a focus on external validity. In this way, the popularity of social media will be used to address the inherent risks and empower adolescents. Clinical Trial: This study has been registered with the DRKS under DRKS00032308.