An evaluation of a brief HIV/AIDS prevention intervention for college students using normative feedback and goal setting.
This study evaluated the ability of a 20-minute self-administered intervention to increase HIV/AIDS risk reduction among sexually active college students. The intervention presented normative data on the relatively low prevalence of HIV risk behaviors among college students for the purpose of conveying the idea that risk reduction was the prevailing social norm among their same age peers. The intervention also invited students to select specific risk reduction goals to be implemented over a 30-day follow-up period. Participants (N = 155) were assigned in alternating order to receive either the intervention or a control condition that entailed reading a general AIDS information pamphlet. Results were partially moderated by gender. Compared with controls, men in the intervention group reported significantly higher condom use, whereas women in the intervention group reported significantly fewer sexual partners.
Chernoff
Robert A
RA
University of Southern California, USA. chernoff@labiomed.org
Davison
Gerald C
GC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012945:Social Values; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*