Development and Implementation of Innovative, Tailored Sexual Assault Prevention Interventions: An Mhealth Example from the US Air Force

Introduction: Despite considerable efforts to prevent military sexual assault (SA), it remains a significant problem. In 2016, 14881 active-duty servicemembers were sexually assaulted; 90% of victimized females and 74% of victimized males indicated their perpetrators were fellow servicemembers. SA prevention interventions are likely to be most effective when tailored to specific needs and individual experiences. However, individualized programming presents logistical challenges in group education settings and in organizations where staff and leadership change frequently. To address these prevention needs, this presentation describes the development of an innovative approach to evidence-based SA prevention in U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT).

Methods: Focus groups and individual interviews with active duty Airmen (n=52) informed adaptations to existing evidence-based prevention program curricula for young adults to include targeted, military-specific material and examples. A panel of Air Force SA survivors provided preliminary acceptability feedback on adapted content and delivery approach. Iterative planning cycles with Air Force staff and leadership informed development of a collaborative and sustainable implementation strategy.

Results: The resulting Sexual Communication and Consent (SCC) program includes six tailored tablet-based intervention curricula (targeting the prevention of first-time SA victimization, SA revictimization, or SA perpetration, with distinct content for men and women) interwoven into a universal classroom curriculum that includes topics relevant for all participants (e.g., consent, healthy communication). Individuals are directed into appropriate tablet content using a screening assessment and an automated algorithm that accounts for participants’ past SA experiences and personal risk factors for victimization and/or perpetration. Universal classroom content is delivered by trained prevention educators and includes activities, games, and discussions. Tailored tablet content is delivered confidentially and includes videos of risk scenarios, interactive quizzes, and problem-solving exercises. Feasibility and acceptability are assessed via immediate tablet-collected feedback from trainees and facilitators.

Discussion: The SCC program employs innovative mHealth solutions to overcome challenges associated with addressing sensitive topics in a large group setting by integrating tailored, tablet-delivered intervention content into the existing classroom-based military training context. We will discuss advantages to using a phased, mobile data collection approach to assess intervention feasibility and acceptability, and the likelihood that SCC implementation will be successful, scalable, and sustainable.