Product News Post Archives

iRT to Evaluate the Impact of Training Mentors on Youth Impacted by Substance Misuse

Elizabeth Porter2025-02-21T19:34:28+00:00

February 21, 2025, Durham, NC – iRT is excited to announce that it has received funding from the National Institutes of Health to evaluate the impact of a web-based training program on mentors working with mentees who have been impacted by substance misuse. Approximately 14.7% of youth 12 to 17 years old reported using illicit drugs in 2023, and more than 21 million children in the U.S. lived with a parent who misused substances between 2015 and 2019.1,2 Thus, youth can be impacted by substance misuse in more than one way – they may be at risk for misusing substances themselves; [...]

iRT to Evaluate the Impact of Training Mentors on Youth Impacted by Substance MisuseElizabeth Porter2025-02-21T19:34:28+00:00

Promoting Safe Driving in Teens with Plan My Ride: Practicing Avoiding Riding with an Impaired Driver

Elizabeth Porter2025-02-18T16:07:38+00:00

February 18, 2025, Durham, NC – iRT is dedicated to preventing distracted and impaired driving and helping drivers, prevention professionals, and community members protect themselves and others on the road. Plan My Ride is iRT’s interactive, multimedia, eLearning program developed with and for young drivers to teach safe driving skills to prevent distracted and impaired driving. Unlike other safe driving educational programs, Plan My Ride uses a science-backed and theory-driven approach to change behavior by teaching concrete, practical strategies to avoid impaired and distracted driving, and providing opportunities for young drivers to practice the skills they have learned in 360-degree virtual scenarios. The program [...]

Promoting Safe Driving in Teens with Plan My Ride: Practicing Avoiding Riding with an Impaired DriverElizabeth Porter2025-02-18T16:07:38+00:00

Promoting Safe Driving in Teens with Plan My Ride: Practicing Avoiding Substance Use and Driving

Elizabeth Porter2025-01-28T19:41:49+00:00

January 28, 2025, Durham, NC – iRT is dedicated to preventing distracted and impaired driving and helping drivers, prevention professionals, and community members protect themselves and others on the road. Plan My Ride is iRT’s interactive, multimedia, eLearning program developed with and for young drivers to teach safe driving skills to prevent distracted and impaired driving. Unlike other safe driving educational programs, Plan My Ride uses a science-backed and theory-driven approach to change behavior by teaching concrete, practical strategies to avoid impaired and distracted driving, and providing opportunities for young drivers to practice the skills they have learned in 360-degree virtual [...]

Promoting Safe Driving in Teens with Plan My Ride: Practicing Avoiding Substance Use and DrivingElizabeth Porter2025-01-28T19:41:49+00:00

Journal of Health Communication Publishes the Impacts of Media Aware on Young Adults’ Sexual Health Cognitions

Elizabeth Porter2025-01-16T16:08:22+00:00

January 16, 2025, Durham, NC – The Journal of Health Communication recently published an article detailing findings from an evaluation of iRT’s media literacy education-based sexual health promotion program called Media Aware. The article, entitled “A Media Literacy Education Approach to Sexual Health Promotion: Immediate Effects of Media Aware on the Sexual Health Cognitions of Young Adult Community College Students,” was authored by iRT Researchers Dr. Tracy Scull, Dr. Christina Dodson, Dr. Janis Kupersmidt, Dr. Reina Evans-Paulson, Dr. Katie Stump, and Liz Reeder. Media Aware is an interactive, web-based program that provides young adults with comprehensive, medically-accurate information about sex and [...]

Journal of Health Communication Publishes the Impacts of Media Aware on Young Adults’ Sexual Health CognitionsElizabeth Porter2025-01-16T16:08:22+00:00

iRT to Present at the Society for Research in Child Development 2025 Biennial Meeting

Elizabeth Porter2025-01-28T19:49:39+00:00

January 15, 2025, Durham, NC – iRT Research Scientists Drs. Alison Parker and Tracy Scull will present findings from an evaluation of DigiKnowIt News at a poster session at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) 2025 Biennial Meeting. The SRCD 2025 Biennial Meeting will be held May 1-3, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The meeting provides opportunities for attendees to share and discuss findings from basic and applied research aimed at providing a better understanding of child development. About the Presentation Drs. Parker’s and Scull’s poster presentation, entitled A multimedia resource to educate and empower children to make decisions about [...]

iRT to Present at the Society for Research in Child Development 2025 Biennial MeetingElizabeth Porter2025-01-28T19:49:39+00:00

Promoting Safe Driving in Teens with Plan My Ride: Practicing Avoiding Distracted Driving

Elizabeth Porter2024-12-17T19:28:19+00:00

December 17, 2024, Durham, NC – iRT is dedicated to preventing distracted and impaired driving and helping drivers, prevention professionals, and community members protect themselves and others on the road. Plan My Ride is iRT’s interactive, multimedia, eLearning program developed with and for young drivers to teach safe driving skills to prevent distracted and impaired driving. Unlike other safe driving educational programs, Plan My Ride uses a science-backed and theory-driven approach to change behavior by teaching concrete, practical strategies to avoid impaired and distracted driving, and providing opportunities for young drivers to practice the skills they have learned in 360-degree virtual scenarios. The program is [...]

Promoting Safe Driving in Teens with Plan My Ride: Practicing Avoiding Distracted DrivingElizabeth Porter2024-12-17T19:28:19+00:00

The American Journal of Sexuality Education Publishes iRT’s Research on Sex Education Programs for College Students

Elizabeth Porter2024-11-25T14:59:53+00:00

November 25, 2024, Durham, NC – The American Journal of Sexuality Education recently published an article detailing findings from iRT’s research on comprehensive sex education programs for college students. The article, entitled “Acceptability and Fidelity of a Media Literacy Education-Based, Comprehensive Sexual Health Program for College Students: A Multi-Method Student-Centered Evaluation,” was authored by current and former iRT Researchers Dr. Reina Evans-Paulson, Kylia Ahuna, Dr. Tracy Scull, Dr. Christina Dodson, and Dr. Janis Kupersmidt. College students are at high risk for engaging in risky sexual behaviors, such as unprotected sex and poor communication with partners. Providing high-quality comprehensive sex education is [...]

The American Journal of Sexuality Education Publishes iRT’s Research on Sex Education Programs for College StudentsElizabeth Porter2024-11-25T14:59:53+00:00

Promoting Safe Driving in Teens with Plan My Ride: Communicate to Stay Safe

Elizabeth Porter2024-11-25T14:19:20+00:00

November 25, 2024, Durham, NC – iRT is dedicated to preventing distracted and impaired driving and helping drivers, prevention professionals, and community members protect themselves and others on the road. Plan My Ride is iRT’s interactive, multimedia, eLearning program developed with and for young drivers to teach safe driving skills to prevent distracted and impaired driving. Unlike other safe driving educational programs, Plan My Ride uses a science-backed and theory-driven approach to change behavior by teaching concrete, practical strategies to avoid impaired and distracted driving, and providing opportunities for young drivers to practice the skills they have learned in 360-degree virtual scenarios. The program [...]

Promoting Safe Driving in Teens with Plan My Ride: Communicate to Stay SafeElizabeth Porter2024-11-25T14:19:20+00:00

Plan My Ride Receives Its Third Award for Accessibility and Innovation

Elizabeth Porter2024-10-15T19:52:17+00:00

October 15, 2024, Durham, NC – iRT is excited to announce that the Plan My Ride program has received an Award of Excellence from Brandon Hall Group for its use of interactive features that provide accessibility for young people with disabilities. Plan My Ride is an eLearning course that can be delivered remotely or in conjunction with an in-person, instructor-led class with the ultimate goal of improving new drivers’ attitudes and perceived norms about impaired driving, self-efficacy to avoid distracted or impaired driving, and intentions to drive safely. Young people who participate in the Plan My Ride program complete interactive learning activities, videos, [...]

Plan My Ride Receives Its Third Award for Accessibility and InnovationElizabeth Porter2024-10-15T19:52:17+00:00

Promoting Safe Driving in Teens with Plan My Ride: Prevent Opioid Use and Driving

Elizabeth Porter2024-10-15T19:21:44+00:00

October 15, 2024, Durham, NC – iRT is dedicated to preventing distracted and impaired driving and helping drivers, prevention professionals, and community members protect themselves and others on the road. Plan My Ride is iRT’s interactive, multimedia, eLearning program developed with and for young drivers to teach safe driving skills to prevent distracted and impaired driving. Unlike other safe driving educational programs, Plan My Ride uses a science-backed and theory-driven approach to change behavior by teaching concrete, practical strategies to avoid impaired and distracted driving, and providing opportunities for young drivers to practice the skills they have learned in 360-degree virtual scenarios. The program [...]

Promoting Safe Driving in Teens with Plan My Ride: Prevent Opioid Use and DrivingElizabeth Porter2024-10-15T19:21:44+00:00