Cohen, D.A., MacKinnon, D.P., Dent, C., Mason, H., & Sullivan, E. (1992). Public Health Reports, 107 (6), 727 - 731
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. |
Intervention Goal(s): To determine the effects of a small group intervention to promote safer sex and condom use.
Intervention Setting: Waiting room of an STD clinic.
Population: Of the 426 adults who participated in the study, 71% were men and 29% were women; 92% were African American. The average age of the participants was 28 years.
Comparison Condition: Usual services available in the STD clinic.
Behavioral/ Health Findings: Men who participated in the intervention had a significantly lower STD reinfection rate than men in the comparison condition. There was no evidence of change for women.
Contact:
Deborah A. Cohen, MD, MPH
Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
1600 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: 504 680-9450
Fax: 504 680-9453
E-mail: dcohen@lsumc.edu
Go to Social Skills Training
This study meets CDC's HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis project criteria for relevance and methodological rigor and also has the positive and significant behavioral/health findings required for the Compendium. Date added 1/99
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