DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A SEXUAL DECISION-MAKING AND SOCIAL SKILLS PROGRAM - THE CHOICE IS YOURS - PREVENTING HIV STDS/

A series of interactive videodisc programs designed to reduce HIV/STD risk behaviors was developed and evaluated. Separate programs were dev eloped for each of three race/ethnicities (African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian) at each of two age levels (middle school and high scho ol) using extensive formative procedures. Each program uses scenarios with extensive branching story lines to teach decision-making skills a nd socially appropriate responses to potentially risky sexual situatio ns. In a randomized experiment with 827 students, significant changes were observed at posttest for the four constructs assessed: (1) belief that sex occurs as a result of decisions (vs. ''it just happens''), ( 2) belief that even a single incident of unprotected sex can result in an STD or pregnancy, (3) intentions and attitudes toward use of condo ms, and (4) self-efficacy in remaining abstinent (i.e., avoiding sex). At 30-day follow-up, three of the four measures remained significant.