Evaluating a Brief, Video-Based Sexual Risk Reduction Intervention and Assessment Reactivity with STI Clinic Patients: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

We report results from a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of a video-based sexual risk reduction intervention and to measure assessment reactivity. Patients (N = 1010; 56 % male; 69 % African American) receiving care at a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic were assigned to one of four conditions formed by crossing assessment condition (i.e., sexual health vs. general health) with intervention condition (i.e., sexual risk reduction intervention vs. general health promotion). After completing their assigned baseline assessment, participants received their assigned intervention, and subsequently returned for follow-up assessments at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Participants in all conditions reduced their self-reported sexual risk behavior, and the incidence of new STIs declined from baseline through the follow-ups; however, there was no effect of intervention or assessment condition. We conclude that further risk reduction will require more intensive interventions, especially in STI clinics that already provide excellent clinical care.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00947271.

Figures

Fig. 1

Consort flow diagram

Fig. 2

Sexual behavior means over time among patients participating in a randomized controlled trial at a public STI clinic. Means are adjusted for all significant demographic covariates. There were no significant differences between those in different intervention or measurement conditions. Time points with different letters differ significantly in pairwise comparisons with Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple comparisons. There were no significant differences over time in the number of unprotected sexual acts with main partners