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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Alfonso Ang, PhD and Charles Hu, MPH. General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, UCLA, 911 Broxton Plaza, Box 173617, Los Angeles, CA 90024, 310-794-8518, aang@mednet.ucla.edu

Background/Objectives: This study validates the results of a community-based intervention study on HIV/STI/AIDS. Often, the stigma accompanied with risky behavior may cause respondents to lie or under-report sexual practices that put them at risk. This study compares the reliability of a self-reported condom use scale based on data collected using web-based technology and paper-and-pencil survey questionnaire.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used to randomly allocate 600 sexually active adolescents (300 in each group) into an intervention and control group. Participants were recruited from medical clinics and school health classes. Hierarchical mixed models was used to estimate change in knowledge, attitudes and condom use behavior. The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale was used to assess social desirability and its relationship to measures of condom use behavior.

Results: There was no relationship between social desirability and self-report on condom use. Results of the intervention indicate a significant change in knowledge (p = .02), attitudes (p < .01), and condom use behavior (p =.04) from baseline to post-test. Those who used online surveys were more likely to report high-risk sexual behavior (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: The web-based educational intervention program was found to be an effective means of HIV/AIDS/STI prevention. Results were validated with clinical data. Those who reported being consistent condom users had significantly lower rates of STI (p < 0.01). These results suggest the need to test the validity of condom use measures in order to better assess the effects of HIV/AIDS/STI intervention studies.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to

• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of using web-based vs. pen-and-paper survey questionnaires,
• Develop knowledge on the use of web-based technology as applied to community-based intervention studies,
• Identify various threats to validity for self-reported measures of condom use,
• List socio-environmental factors significantly predictive of condom use behavior

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, HIV Interventions

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No