Description of Intervention: Group Discussion Condom Promotion

This intervention used the social context of small groups to encourage change in norms, expectations, and social skills. The intervention was delivered in a single group session to people waiting for appointments in a Los Angeles STD clinic. A trained female African-American health educator led sessions for groups of 10-25 participants.

The intervention session began with a video, "Let's Do Something Different," depicting condom use as socially acceptable. After the video a health educator facilitated a group discussion on methods of preventing STDs and promoting condom use. This discussion included the reasons why people liked and disliked condoms. Role-playing gave the clinic patients an opportunity to practice condom negotiation, first with the health educator and then with another patient. Questions relating to medical aspects of STDs were referred to clinic nursing and medical personnel. All participants were offered 10 free condoms by clinic nurses.