Effects of a brief, theory-based STD-prevention program for female collegestudents

Purpose: To evaluate a brief, theoretically guided sexually transmitted dis ease (STD) risk-reduction intervention tailored to college-aged women. Methods: The participants were 78 undergraduate females (M = 20 years; 76% European-American) who reported inconsistent condom use or multiple sexual partners. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (a) a one-session intervention based on the information-motivation-behavioral sk ills (IMB) model, (b) a one-session information-only intervention (INFO), o r (c) a wait-list control (WLC) group. Consistent with Fisher and Fisher's (1992) IMB model, we predicted that risk reduction would be greater when in formation about HIV was supplemented with motivational enhancement strategi es and skills training. To evaluate this hypothesis, groups were compared a t the post-intervention assessment and at a 2-month follow-up using analyse s of covariance and log odds ratios. Results: At the post-intervention assessment, the IMB and INFO groups demon strated increased STD-related knowledge. At 2-month follow-up, the IMB and INFO groups showed sustained STD-related knowledge, and the IMB group showe d reductions in number of sexual partners compared to the WLC group. Conclusions: These results provide partial support for the hypothesis that an IMB model-based intervention leads to reductions in sexual risk behavior and suggest directions for future research. (C) Society for Adolescent Med icine, 2001.