Seventeen Days Interactive is an evidence-based interactive film created by Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Risk Perception and Communication and designed to educate young women about contraception and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The film presents scenarios involving decisions that young women face in romantic relationships. The film identifies choice points, suggests risk-reduction strategies, and asks viewers to think about what they would do in a similar situation. The film is interactive, allowing viewers to choose what they want to watch. Viewers are given the opportunity to mentally practice how they would respond in hypothetical situations through the frequent use of “cognitive rehearsal.”

The film centers around a pregnancy scare, presenting educational content through six vignettes, a condom demonstration, and four mini-documentaries. The mini documentaries focus on contraception, STIs and anatomy. They are varied in their approach, including real life stories, dramatized video, interactive features, clinical expertise and mechanical demonstrations.

The target audience for this video is sexually active adolescent females aged 14-19.

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Farris, C., Akers, A. Y., Downs, J. S., & Forbes, E. E. (2013). Translational research applications for the study of adolescent sexual decision making. Clinical and translational science, 6(1), 78-81.

Downs, J. S., Bruine de Bruin, W., Murray, P. J., & Fischhoff, B. (2006). Specific STI knowledge may be acquired too late. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38, 65-67.

Downs, J. S., Bruine de Bruin, W., Murray, P. J., & Fischhoff, B. (2004). When “it only takes once” fails: perceived infertility predicts condom use and STI acquisition. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 17(3), 224.

Downs, J.S., Murray, P.J., Bruine de Bruin, W., White, J.P., Palmgren, C. & Fischhoff, B. (2004). Interactive Video Behavioral Intervention to Reduce Adolescent Females’ STD Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Social Science & Medicine, 59, 1561-1572

Murray, P. J., Downs, J. S., Fischhoff, B., White, J. P., & McGinnis, M. S. (2001). Contraceptive choice: A behavioral correlate of condom use. Journal of Adolescent Health.

Murray, P.J., Downs, J.S., White, J.P., Fischhoff, B., Barr, S.A., & Palmgren, C.  (2000). Previous clinical diagnosis of chlamydia helps patients predict outcome of new chlamydia.  Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 13(2), 98.

Fischhoff, B., Downs, J. S., & Bruine de Bruin, W. (1998). Adolescent vulnerability: A framework for behavioral interventions.Applied and Preventive Psychology, 7, 77-94.

The production of this project and film was supported by Grant Number TP1AH00040 from Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the developers and do not necessarily represent the official views of Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  © 2013 Carnegie Mellon University