Project Overview
MYPEER, is a mobile app designed with immigrant adolescents using Community-Based Participatory Action Research and Human-Centred Design. Grounded in behavioural theories. It offers engaging, expert-reviewed content on puberty, contraception, STIs, gender identity, and healthy relationships. It also helps users find inclusive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services by filtering options based on language, accessibility, and 2SLGBTQIA+ friendliness. This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of MYPEER as an SRH intervention among immigrant youth in Alberta and British Columbia, helping to inform scalable solutions for inclusive SRH education across Canada.
The project objectives are:
- Evaluating recruitment and enrollment processes across diverse communities;
- Monitoring participant retention and engagement over time;
- Assessing the practicality and clarity of survey tools and app usage metrics;
- Estimating preliminary changes in SRH knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors;
- Calculating effect sizes to inform sample size planning for a future RCT.
Research Questions
- How effective are the recruitment and enrollment strategies in engaging immigrant adolescents from diverse communities in Alberta and British Columbia?
- To what extent do participants remain engaged with the MYPEER app and complete follow-up assessments over the study period?
- Are the survey tools and app usage metrics practical, culturally appropriate, and clearly understood by immigrant adolescents?
- What preliminary changes in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours are observed among users of the MYPEER app, and what are the estimated effect sizes to guide future RCT planning?
Research Design and Methodology
This is a single-arm, pre-post feasibility study conducted over 15 months in Alberta and British Columbia. Participants will receive access to the MYPEER app and will be followed over a 6-month period to evaluate engagement and potential changes in outcomes.
Collaborators
UBC School of Nursing & Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre (SARAVYC)
- Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Saewyc (Professor & Distinguished University Scholar, Director, School of Nursing)
University of Alberta
- Project Leader: Salima Meherali (Associate Professor & Associate Dean International, Faculty of Nursing)
Outputs
Project Status
This project is currently in the Planning phase.
Keywords
Immigrant adolescents, Sexual and reproductive health, digital tools, community-based participatory research
This research was undertaken thanks in part to funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.
