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Volume 23
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10.3390/ijerph23070843
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Article

Development and Pilot Evaluation of a Training-of-Trainers Model for School-Based Sexuality Education Within the ESPRIT Project

by
Alessandra Casuccio
1,*,
Nicolò Piazza
1,
Giada Cordova
1,
Patrizia Ferro
1,
Nazareno Inzerillo
1,
Alessio Castiglione
1,
Manola Comar
2,3,
Barbara Suligoi
4,
Maria Cristina Salfa
4,
Daniele Gianfrilli
5,
Franz Sesti
5,
Silvia Gazzetta
6,
Laura Brunelli
6,7,
Palmira Immordino
1,
Vincenzo Restivo
8 and
ESPRIT Study Collaboration Group
1,6,7
1
Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
2
Department of Advanced Translational Microbiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) “Burlo Garofolo”, 34137 Trieste, Italy
3
Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
4
National AIDS Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
5
Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
6
Complex Operational Unit Accreditation, Quality, and Clinical Risk, Friuli Centrale Healthcare University, 33100 Udine, Italy
7
Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
8
Department of Medicine, Kore University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(7), 843; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23070843 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 12 May 2026 / Revised: 23 June 2026 / Accepted: 25 June 2026 / Published: 26 June 2026
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Sexuality education is essential for adolescent health and well-being, yet in Italy it is not included in a mandatory national curriculum, resulting in heterogeneous implementation across regions. Within the ESPRIT project, a multidisciplinary training-of-trainers (ToT) model was developed to prepare professionals to support school-based peer-education pathways. This study aimed to describe the training model and perform a pilot evaluation of short-term knowledge outcomes among trained participants. Methods: A pilot non-randomized controlled comparative study was conducted within the ESPRIT project framework. A multidisciplinary Training Team developed a structured ToT pathway based on WHO guidance, national recommendations, and peer-education models. Ten advanced public health residents in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine attended a three-day residential training course. One month later, a 10-item knowledge questionnaire was administered to trained participants (n = 10) and untrained advanced public health residents (n = 10). Results: Trained participants achieved higher questionnaire scores than the comparator group (median score 8 [IQR 2] vs. 3.5 [IQR 2]; p < 0.0005). Conclusions: Structured ToT programmes may represent a promising approach for strengthening professional preparation in sexuality education. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to evaluate sustainability and real-world implementation.
Keywords: sexuality education; public health training; health education; training of trainers; capacity building sexuality education; public health training; health education; training of trainers; capacity building

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Casuccio, A.; Piazza, N.; Cordova, G.; Ferro, P.; Inzerillo, N.; Castiglione, A.; Comar, M.; Suligoi, B.; Salfa, M.C.; Gianfrilli, D.; et al. Development and Pilot Evaluation of a Training-of-Trainers Model for School-Based Sexuality Education Within the ESPRIT Project. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23, 843. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23070843

AMA Style

Casuccio A, Piazza N, Cordova G, Ferro P, Inzerillo N, Castiglione A, Comar M, Suligoi B, Salfa MC, Gianfrilli D, et al. Development and Pilot Evaluation of a Training-of-Trainers Model for School-Based Sexuality Education Within the ESPRIT Project. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2026; 23(7):843. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23070843

Chicago/Turabian Style

Casuccio, Alessandra, Nicolò Piazza, Giada Cordova, Patrizia Ferro, Nazareno Inzerillo, Alessio Castiglione, Manola Comar, Barbara Suligoi, Maria Cristina Salfa, Daniele Gianfrilli, and et al. 2026. "Development and Pilot Evaluation of a Training-of-Trainers Model for School-Based Sexuality Education Within the ESPRIT Project" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 23, no. 7: 843. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23070843

APA Style

Casuccio, A., Piazza, N., Cordova, G., Ferro, P., Inzerillo, N., Castiglione, A., Comar, M., Suligoi, B., Salfa, M. C., Gianfrilli, D., Sesti, F., Gazzetta, S., Brunelli, L., Immordino, P., Restivo, V., & ESPRIT Study Collaboration Group. (2026). Development and Pilot Evaluation of a Training-of-Trainers Model for School-Based Sexuality Education Within the ESPRIT Project. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(7), 843. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23070843

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