Description of Intervention: Condom Skills Education

This intervention was based on the premise that familiarity with condoms and skills in using condoms properly are necessary for increasing future condom use. The intervention consisted of a brief condom skills education session led by a health educator who was an African-American woman. The intervention was delivered in a single 30-minute group session to people waiting for appointments in a Los Angeles STD clinic.

The session began with a 10- to 15-minute presentation in which the health educator emphasized 3 important points for effective condom use: condoms should be made of latex, condoms should have a reservoir tip or space left at the end, and condoms should be lubricated with a spermicide. The session included group discussion of how condoms should be used and a demonstration of how to put on a condom. The health educator referred to a poster that displayed a variety of condoms with their packaging. The presentation was followed by a 10- to 15-minute question-and-answer session.