USING THE THEORY OF REASONED ACTION (TRA) TO UNDERSTAND THE DECISION TO USE CONDOMS IN AN STD CLINIC POPULATION

The theory of reasoned action (TRA) provides useful information when d esigning health education interventions. In this study, 703 heterosexu al STD clinic clients responded to a TRA-based survey. With steady par tners, social norms and attitudes toward condom use were significant p redictors of intention for both men and women. The interaction of atti tude and norm increased prediction for men (R = .64, p < 0.001) and wo men (R = .70, p < 0.001). With casual partners, attitude was a predict or for men and social norm was a predictor for women. Prior use of con doms increased prediction for men (R = .38, p < 0.001) and women (R = .47, p < 0.001). Findings suggest that, in addition to traditional TRA model variables, the relationship between sexual partners and the ind ividual's prior experience with condom use should be incorporated into attempts to understand this complex, dyadic behavior. Examining speci fic outcome and normative beliefs also provides important information for intervention design.