The effects of an STD educational intervention on follow-up appointment keeping and medication-taking compliance.
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) educational intervention was examined to determine whether or not it influenced patient compliance with follow-up appointment keeping and with medication taking. Also measured was whether compliance varied due to the type of counselor utilized (clinician or nonmedical interviewer). A sample of 340 men attending a Memphis, Tennessee, STD clinic were divided equally into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was exposed to a structured educational intervention. The control group received standard information according to the clinic protocol. Of the 340 subjects entered into the study, 224 (66%) returned for a follow-up. Of those returning, 121/170 (71%) were in the experimental group (P = .05). Mean scores for compliance with medication taking were not statistically significant. The type of counselor utilized did not affect the level of compliance with either dependent variable.
Blonna
R
R
Department of Health Science, William Paterson College, Wayne, New Jersey 07470.
Legos
P
P
Burlack
P
P
D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000187:drug effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D013752:Tetracycline