ArticlePloS one2026
Exploring the effectiveness of podcasts in improving sexual health among young people: Findings from a qualitative study.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSexual health promotion among young people remains an urgent global priority. Despite robust public health systems, young people living in Australia continue to experience unmet needs in sexual health promotion due to cultural stigma, lack of relatable content, and insufficient inclusivity for marginalised populations. Podcasts are gaining attention as a flexible, relatable medium that may address these gaps, yet little research has explored their effectiveness in sexual health promotion from young people's perspectives. This study aimed to explore how the On The Couch podcast supports young people's sexual health.
methodsThis qualitative study conducted five focus groups with 18 participants aged 18-24 residing in Australia who had listened to the On The Couch sexual health podcast. Participants were recruited via university channels, social media, and podcast platforms, and reflected diverse cultural and educational backgrounds. Data collection involved semi-structured focus groups conducted both online and face-to-face. Transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach to identify themes and sub-themes. Ethical approval was granted by the Greater Western Human Research Ethics Committee (Reference: 2023/ETH02655) with ratification from the University of Technology Sydney Medical Research Ethics Committee.
resultsThree major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Podcasts significantly improved knowledge and shifted attitudes toward sexual health through relatable storytelling and emotional resonance. However, translating awareness into sustained behavioural change remained challenging, largely due to cultural and structural barriers. (2) Young people valued podcasts for their conversational tone, accessibility, and convenience, but highlighted the need for multimodal enhancements such as visual aids and transcripts. (3) Participants offered specific recommendations for improving podcast design, advocating for increased youth co-creation, authentic narratives, interactive formats, and culturally sensitive content.
conclusionsThe study demonstrates that podcasts hold considerable promise for youth-focused sexual health promotion by providing relatable, emotionally engaging content. However, their effectiveness in changing behaviour is contingent upon addressing cultural barriers. Future podcasts should be developed with young people as co-creators, ensuring content aligns closely with their lived experiences, learning preferences, and social realities. This approach may enhance the role of podcasts as an effective medium in digital sexual health promotion.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.