title: Evaluation of a knowledge- and cognitive-behavioral skills-building intervention to prevent STDs and HIV infection in high school students.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a school-based knowledge- and cognitive-behavioral skills-building STD/HIV prevention intervention. Subjects were 513 ethnically and racially diverse students attending four urban public high schools. The sample was 59% female and had a mean age of 14.4 years. A quasi-experimental design was utilized to evaluate the intervention which consisted of three class sessions. Results of hierarchical regression analyses, controlling for baseline scores and demographic factors, indicate that this intervention was effective at increasing STD knowledge (p < .05), and skills related to prevention of risky sexual (p < .05) and drug use (p < .001) behavior. Although significant changes in risk behaviors were not detected, it is too soon to conclude that school-based education and skills building STD/HIV prevention interventions are ineffective at changing risk behaviors in adolescents. Implications for future study are addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0503, USA.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shafer
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tschann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012572:School Health Services; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013663:Teaching