HIV Infections, Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Conditions
Keywords
Internet, Interactive Computer Program, HIV Prevention
Brief summary
This study will develop and evaluate the effectiveness of tailored web-based messages in promoting condom use among young adults.
Detailed description
Adolescents and young adults are at the greatest risk for acquiring a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Approximately 3 million people between the ages of 18 and 24 become infected with an STD each year. Education about the risks and consequences of unprotected sex is a powerful tool that can be used to prevent or reduce the risk of infection. The program in this study will deliver messages to educate participants about condom use and the risk of STD infection. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored interactive online risk reduction program versus a standard online risk reduction program in reducing the risk of STD infection in young adults. Participants in this open-label study will be recruited from one of two clinics in the Denver, Colorado area: Denver Metropolitan Health Clinic or Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive internet-based messages from either the Youthnet program or the control program while filling out a risk assessment survey. Participants in the Youthnet program will be asked their gender and ethnicity so they may be assigned to a role model of the same gender and ethnicity via a computer program. This role model will appear online 5 times during the survey to deliver interactive messages that will be tailored to HIV/STD risk reduction and will specifically address attitudes about condom usage. The control program will deliver 5 general, non-tailored messages containing information on reproductive health not specific to condoms or STDs. Participants will be assessed at baseline and a follow-up session 3 months after enrollment. Frequency of condom use and attitudes toward condom use will be assessed using behavioral scales.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALNon-tailored messages
The control program will deliver five general, non-tailored messages containing information on reproductive health not specific to condoms or STDs.
BEHAVIORALInternet-based tailored prevention messages
Participants will receive five 30-second flash clips promoting condom norms, positive attitudes, self-efficacy, and risk awareness. Participants in the Youthnet program will be asked their gender and ethnicity so they may be assigned to a role model of the same gender and ethnicity via a computer program. This role model will appear online 5 times during the survey to deliver interactive messages that will be tailored to HIV/STD risk reduction and will specifically address attitudes about condom usage.
Sponsors
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
University of Colorado, Denver
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Client of Denver Metropolitan Health Clinic or Planned Parenthood * English-speaking * Access to a computer and an existing e-mail account * Will be in Denver for at least 4 months
Exclusion criteria
* Not a resident of the Denver metropolitan area * No existing e-mail address * No access to a computer
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Condom use with non main partners | Measured at Month 3 |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Self-efficacy for condom use and condom negotiation | Measured at Month 3 |
| Attitudes and norms towards condom use | Measured at Month 3 |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed