User-Centered Design to Enhance University Students' Sex and Menstrual Education: Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background There is a challenge in providing university students, particularly, with reliable sex and menstrual education that caters to their specific needs. This study endeavors to bridge this gap by developing and evaluating student-led, mobile-centric educational modules for sexual and menstrual education. Methods The study co-designed the educational content and the mobile user interface to resonate with university students' needs. Eighty unmarried university students were randomized into two groups: a PDF group (n = 40) and a Video group (n = 40). The program's effectiveness was gauged using a randomized controlled trial design, complemented by qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews. The educational impact was assessed for the 80 participants based on the type of content delivered. Results The video group showed a significant increase in sexual knowledge, while the PDF group demonstrated a significant increase in menstruation knowledge. Regarding the overall quiz scores, the PDF group achieved significantly higher scores. However, apart from the quiz score, no significant differences were found between the video and PDF groups. Conclusion This study highlights the significance of co-designing educational content tailored to the needs of university students. Interestingly, it emphasizes that the format of educational content within a mobile-based platform is similar in effectively delivering education. Trial registration: This trial was registered in a Clinical Research Information Service in Korea linked with the World Health Organization’s International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (WHO’s ICTRP) (30/11/2023, no. KCT0009006)