Who knows more about condoms? A comparison between nursing students, education students, and at-risk adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To examine knowledge regarding appropriate use of condoms and lubricants among three groups: female at-risk adolescents, nursing students, and education students.


METHODS
Study participants were 236 adolescents: 65 recruited through community agencies, 79 female nursing students, and 92 female education students. These participants completed anonymous questionnaires concerning lubricants, general condom knowledge, and sexual experience.


RESULTS
Neither nursing students nor education students were more knowledgeable than adolescents not enrolled in college. All participants were about as likely to think unsafe lubricants were safe as they were to think that safe lubricants were unsafe. Personal experience with vaginal intercourse and condom use was associated with increased knowledge (p < 0.05). However, 27% to 66% of participants who had used condoms answered the lubricant questions incorrectly.


CONCLUSIONS
Nursing students need more education about condoms and condom lubricants if they intend to teach patients effectively. Moreover, nurses should not assume that youth are knowledgeable about appropriate condom use based on their level of education or sexual experience.
Norris
Anne E
AE
Boston College, School of Nursing, MA 02467, USA. norrisa@bc.edu
Beaton
Meredith M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008153:Lubrication; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States