CASE # 6: ABOUT CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH
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.
Questions
1. 1. Which teaching intervention designed to gather questions and feedback about the lesson
would be most effective for this age group?
A. 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.
B. An open forum where students raise their hands and ask questions. Nurse Glenda responds
appropriately.
C. A survey completed at the end of the class that students give to Nurse Glenda as they leave.
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?
1
It's great to hear that Nurse Glenda R. is taking the initiative to educate teenagers about sex and
abstinence. It's an important topic that many teenagers are curious about but may not feel
comfortable talking to their parents or guardians about.
Nurse Glenda's approach of sending letters to the parents and asking for their permission for their
child to attend the class is a responsible and respectful way to handle the situation. It allows
parents to make an informed decision about whether they want their child to attend and ensures
that everyone is on the same page about what will be discussed.
It's also good to hear that most of the class time was spent discussing reasons for abstinence, how
to know when you are ready for sex, and how to say no if you are not. These are important topics
that can help teenagers make informed decisions about their sexual health and well-being.
Overall, it sounds like Nurse Glenda's approach to educating teenagers about sex and abstinence
is responsible, respectful, and informative. By providing accurate information and encouraging
responsible decision-making, she is helping to promote healthy behaviors among young people.
Which teaching intervention designed to gather questions and feedback
about the lesson would be most effective for this age group?
For this age group (13-14 years old), it may be effective to use an interactive teaching
intervention that allows them to ask questions and provide feedback anonymously. One possible
method is to use an online platform or an interactive tool such as Kahoot, Mentimeter, or Poll
Everywhere.
These platforms allow students to ask questions and provide feedback through their smartphones
or other devices in real-time. The anonymity aspect of these tools may encourage more students
to participate and ask questions without feeling embarrassed or self-conscious. Additionally,
these tools can help make the class more engaging and interactive, which is important for
keeping teenagers' attention and promoting their learning.
Another possible method is to use a "Question Box" where students can write down their
questions on a piece of paper and submit them anonymously. The teacher or the nurse can then
