41. Assessing Feasibility and Strategies for Clinicians to Communicate Via Social Media With Adolescent Patients About HPV Vaccination

Abstract

Purpose: Sexting is becoming a more prevalent practice among today’s youth. (1) Studies have shown a link between sexting and other high-risk sexual behavior. (2) The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sexting of select youth in the Los Angeles area as well as discover the opinions of youth themselves as to why they engage in sexting behavior. Methods: Fifty-five youth presenting for care at the Teen Health Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles were surveyed to evaluate sexting prevalence and specific sexting behaviors such as forwarding sexts, reasons for sending sexts, and youth’s concerns regarding sexting. Chi-square analysis was used to compare answers to sexting behavior questions between genders. Results: More than half the youth in our sample (48.5% of girls, 63.6% of boys) had sent a sext, and the majority (70% of girls, 82% of boys) had received a sext. There were no significant gender differences in sending, receiving, or forwarding sexts. Girls expressed significantly more concern than boys about how sexting could affect their reputation, including getting caught by an adult with a sext (c2(1)1⁄46.246, p1⁄4.012) and how others would think of them (c2(1)1⁄413.38, p<.001). 52% of respondents said they would be comfortable talking with their doctor about sexting. Conclusions: Sexting is becoming more prevalent in today’s youth dating culture. In regards to sexting, youth seem to be worried that sexting may damage their reputations and that there may be personal or legal repercussions for getting caught with a sext. Youth, who need to be made aware of the possible psychosocial complications of sexting, may be receptive to physicians discussing the implications of sexting with them. Sources of Support: 1. Temple JR., Paul JA., van den Berg, P., Le VD., McElhany A., Temple BW. Teen Sexting and Its Association With Sexual Behaviors. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012.166 (9): 828-833. 2. Rice, E., Rhoades, H.,Winetrobe, H., Sanchez,M., Montoya, J., Plant, A., Kordic, T. Sexually Explicit Cell Phone Messaging Associated with Sexual Risk Among Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2012: 130; 4: 667-673.