Teenagers in the United States absorb sex education messages from television programs, and watching and discussing television programs with an adult reinforces the sex education messages, according to a RAND survey published in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics, USA Today reports. Lead researcher Rebecca Collins, a RAND senior behavioral scientist, and colleagues surveyed 506 12- to 17-year-old frequent viewers of the NBC series "Friends" about an episode in which the character Rachel tells the character Ross that she became pregnant after they had sex, even though they used a condom; the episode twice mentions that condoms are only 97% effective at preventing pregnancy when used correctly, according to USA Today. The teenagers were interviewed about the episode a few weeks after it originally aired in October 2001 and again six months later (Elias, USA Today, 11/3). The episode was viewed by approximately 1.67 million people between the ages of 12 and 17, according to Nielsen Media Research information.

Survey Findings
The survey, which was released on Monday as part of RAND's Television and Adolescent Sexuality study examining the role of television in teenager's development of sexual attitudes and behaviors, found that 65% of teenagers who said they had seen the episode recalled that it involved a pregnancy resulting from condom failure, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports (Elber, AP/San Jose Mercury News, 11/3). Most teen viewers interpreted the episode's message as "lots of times condoms don't prevent pregnancy," according to USA Today. However, the 40% of teen viewers who watched the episode with an adult were more likely to accurately remember condoms' effectiveness in preventing pregnancy than teens who did not watch the episode with an adult (USA Today, 11/3). Approximately 10% of teen viewers reported discussing condom efficacy with an adult after viewing the show, according to the study (Collins et al., Pediatrics, November 2003). Researchers found that nearly 50% of teens who discussed the episode with an adult recalled that condoms were "more than 95% effective," nearly twice the number of teens who did not discuss the show with an adult, the AP/Mercury News reports.

Reaction
Collins said, "We've always known that teenagers get useful information about sex from factual reporting and advice-oriented media, but now we know they can get this information from entertainment television programs as well" (AP/San Jose Mercury News, 11/3). Vicky Rideout, vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, said that prime-time television is "saturated with sex," but she added that the situation is improving, according to USA Today. Approximately 25% of television programs that discuss or depict sexual intercourse include mention of "safer sex," waiting to have sex or the consequences of sexual relationships, an increase from 14% of programs four years ago, Rideout said, citing the Kaiser Family Foundation's 2003 report. Rideout said that although 70% of teenagers said that television sex influences the behavior of children their age, it is becoming increasingly difficult for parents to watch television with their children, as two-thirds of children ages eight or older have a television set in their room, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation study. Tamara Kreinin, president of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, said, "Still, parents should try to look at TV with them" because adults can help teens clarify messages, according to USA Today. She added, "We know teenagers pay huge attention to these shows, so why not put good messages on?" (USA Today, 11/3). The Kaiser Family Foundation worked with RAND to conceive and design the project and also provided funds for the study, according to a RAND release (RAND release, 11/3).