Profile of callers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention national sexually transmitted diseases hotline.
OBJECTIVE
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funds a national telephone hotline as a source of information for persons with questions about sexually transmitted diseases. Hotline callers were last surveyed in 1980.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the current profile of callers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National sexually transmitted diseases hotline, assess their concerns, and identify their sources for the hotline telephone number.


METHODS
The survey sampled 1,100 callers: 19 per day distributed across 3 work shifts using a systematic random selection process. Nine short-answer questions were asked, and passively collected data were recorded.


RESULTS
The survey showed callers' demographics (68.4% white); socioeconomics (47.6% with incomes < $15,000); residence (79.8% urban); information requests (20.7% general sexually transmitted diseases); concerns about exposure or infection (76.5% concerned they might be infected); acceptance of referrals (35.7% to public clinics); and hotline telephone number sources (20.4% from pamphlets).


CONCLUSIONS
The hotline is called by persons from all segments of the public and addresses their concerns.
Neumann
M S
MS
Behavioral and Prevention Research Branch, Division of STD/HIV Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D015277:Hotlines / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States