VanDevanter, Nancy L.Messeri, PeterMiddlestadt, Susan E.Bleakley, AmyMerzel, Cheryl R.Hogben, MatthewLedsky, RebeccaMalotte, Kevin C.Cohall, Renee M.Gift, Thomas L.St. Lawrence, Janet S.2023-05-222023-05-222011-10-102019-05-31https://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/2363Objectives. We evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention designed to increase preventive health care seeking among adolescents. Methods. Adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 21 years, recruited from community-based organizations in 2 different communities, were randomized into either a 3-session intervention or a control condition. We estimated outcomes from 3-month follow-up data using logistic and ordinary least squares regression. Results. Female intervention participants were significantly more likely than female control participants to have scheduled a health care appointment (odds ratio [OR]=3.04), undergone a checkup (OR=2.87), and discussed with friends or family members the importance of undergoing a checkup (OR=4.5). There were no differences between male intervention and male control participants in terms of outcomes. Conclusions. This theory-driven, community-based group intervention significantly increased preventive health care seeking among female adolescents. Further research is needed, however, to identify interventions that will produce successful outcomes among male adolescents.VanDevanter N, Messeri P, Middlestadt S, Bleakley A, Merzel C, Hogben M, Ledsky R, Malotte C, Cohall R, St. Lawrence J. Community-based intervention to increase preventive health care seeking in adolescents: The Gonorrhea Community Action Project. American Journal of Public Health; 95(2): 331-337; 2005; American Public Health Association. This article is also found online at: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2003.028357 Copyright for this article is held and maintained by the American Public Health Association, and permission is still required for any use by third-party individuals or organizations.CommunicationSocial and Behavioral SciencesArticle