Real Talk Brief Intervention Study

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) study is a small scale test of the feasibility and
preliminary efficacy of a brief motivational interview-style intervention. The intervention
will take place in the pediatric and adult emergency departments by a trained
interventionist and will follow an intervention algorithm developed by a team of dating
abuse and brief intervention experts. The research design is as follows: the investigators
will randomize youth ages 15-19 to one of two groups: one group who receives the
intervention (N=~180), and the other which does not (N=~180). The investigators will compare
changes in outcomes from baseline to 6-month follow-up for those in both groups. The
investigators will be looking at outcomes including dating abuse-related knowledge,
attitudes about the use of violence to resolve conflict, and dating abuse behavior
(perpetration and/or victimization).

Statement of study hypothesis: Youth who receive the intervention will show improvements in
dating abuse-related knowledge, attitudes and behavior that are maintained for 6 months,
while those in the comparison group will show no similar change.