Procedures
Several hospital staff nurses, identified as informal
members of the research team, aided in the recruitment
of potential subjects. As part of the ongoing
larger study, staff in-services kept the staff aware of
the research aim and goals. Posters were placed in
labor and delivery and postpartum units reminding
staff of the study. For adolescents younger than the
age of 18 years, self-assent and consent via parent
or guardian, were required and obtained prior to
involvement in the study. Adolescents 18 years and
older consented for themselves. A copy of the consent
was provided to the adolescent/guardian and
to the researcher. Adolescents were contacted by
either the PI or a registered nurse graduate research
assistant (GRA) for data collection. The number
of GRAs varied by semester: between one and five.
All GRAs received a 3-hour orientation by the PI
about study objectives, data collection methods,
measurement tools, sensitive data, and procedures
prior to the collection of data. Data collection took