The importance of a qualitative approach for identifying and predicting the difficulties of instituting a prevention program: Training experience at Entraînement à l’amour-propre youth centre
Several studies in education highlight the importance of training intervention workers and taking into consideration contextual factors that may jeopardize the integrity of program implementation. In light of these findings, educators of a Youth Center were given additional training before a pregnancy prevention program for adolescents was implemented in their work place. This article presents an evaluation of this training based on a qualitative approach intended to describe and provide a greater understanding of the following four dimensions: the training process and the pursued objectives, the challenges encountered, the educators' satisfaction and the training's usefulness for the implementation of the prevention program. To meet the evaluation's objectives, qualitative data (tape recordings, field notes, semi-structured and unstructured questionnaires) was collected on these dimensions throughout the course of the training period. The central role of the concerted effort between the actors involved, of grounding the training within the milieu's own practices and of acknowledging the intervention workers' professional expertise emerged as key factors in the analysis. These factors proved capable of reducing tensions associated with changes in the practice and representation of sex education in the establishment. Observing and analyzing the experience also allowed the identification of a number of irritants that must be addressed in the training of educators and phases preceding the implementation of a prevention program.