|
View PDF
The Research
The Intervention The Research
The
Science Behind the Package
VOICES/VOCES is a single-session, video-based HIV/STD prevention program designed to encourage condom use and improve condom negotiation skills. The program is based on the theory of reasoned action, which explains how behaviors are guided by attitudes, beliefs, experiences, and expectations of other persons’ reactions. VOICES/VOCES is grounded in extensive formative research exploring the culture- and gender-based factors that can facilitate behavior change. An evaluation of the intervention showed that VOICES/VOCES is effective when delivered at a “teachable moment,” for instance when a visit to an STD clinic may motivate a person to change behavior.
Target Population
African-American and Latino adult men and women clinic clients Intervention
Health educators convene groups of 4-8 clinic patients in a room
that allows privacy for discussion. Groups are gender- and ethnic-specific,
so that participants can develop prevention strategies appropriate for
their culture. Information on HIV risk behaviors and condom use is delivered
by videos, facilitated group discussion, and a poster board presenting
features of various condom brands in English and Spanish. Two culturally
specific videos are used: one for African-American participants and a bilingual
video for Latinos. Skills in condom use and negotiation are modeled in
the videos, then role-played and practiced by participants during the discussion
that follows. At the end of the single, 45-minute session, participants
are given samples of the types of condoms they have identified as best
meeting their needs.
Research Results
After the VOICES/VOCES intervention participants had:
- Increased knowledge
about the transmission of HIV and other STD
- A more realistic assessment
of their personal risk
- Greater likelihood of
getting condoms and intending to use them regularly
- Fewer repeat STD infections
For Details on the Research
Design
O’Donnell, L.N., San Doval, A., Duran, R., and O’Donnell, C. (1995).
Video-based sexually transmitted disease patient education: Its impact on condom
acquisition. American Journal of Public Health, 85(6), 817-822.
Return to top
The Intervention
A Package Developed from Science
Replicating Effective Programs (REP) is a CDC-initiated project that identifies
HIV/AIDS prevention interventions with demonstrated evidence of effectiveness.
REP supports the original researchers in developing a user-friendly package
of materials designed for prevention providers. VOICES/VOCES is one of the
REP interventions. The VOICES/VOCES intervention package is the product of
extensive collaboration among researchers, health department officials, and
representatives from community-based HIV, STD, and family planning service
organizations. The package was refined through pilot testing in community-based
clinics, with non-research staff at these sites helping to identify key strategies
for implementation. VOICES/VOCES is meant to supplement, rather than supplant,
existing services.
Core Elements
Core elements are intervention components that must be maintained
without alteration to ensure program effectiveness. The core elements
of
VOICES/VOCES include:
- Viewing culturally-specific
videos portraying condom negotiation
- Convening small
group skill-building sessions to work on overcoming barriers to condom
use
- Educating program
participants about different types of condoms and their features
- Distributing
samples of condoms identified by participants as best meeting their
needs
Package Contents
- Preview Guide of
materials for agency administrators
- Bilingual (English/Spanish)
planning and implementation manual for program staff
- Bilingual
(English/Spanish) condom feature poster board displaying a variety
of commercially available condoms and descriptions
of their unique features
- Two videos developed
specifically for the VOICES/VOCES intervention: Porque
Sí targeting
Latino men and women, and Love Exchange, targeting
African Americans
View
Package Contents
Intervention Orientation
Two program staff attend a 2-day training in which they learn how to conduct
the intervention, practice group facilitation skills, and identify agency-specific
implementation strategies.
Technical Assistance
Capacity-building assistance providers problem-solve with adopting agencies
to achieve an effective balance between maintaining core elements and
tailoring to local needs. Assistance providers address implementation
concerns, answer questions, and provide advice.
Timeline for Availability
The VOICES/VOCES intervention package is available in Spanish and bilingual (English, Spanish) versions. Packages are available from CDC along with training on program implementation and technical assistance.
For More Information on the VOICES/VOCES Package
To find out more about future trainings, please visit
http://effectiveinterventions.org,
e-mail
interventions@aed.org, or telephone 1-800-462-9521 or 1-202-884-8712.
Return to top
| 
