Internet-based health promotion and disease control in the 8 cities: successes, barriers, and future plans.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this paper is to provide a detailed description of Internet-based sexually transmitted disease/human immunodeficiency virus prevention in the 8 US cities most affected by syphilis in men who have sex with men.


OBJECTIVE
By reviewing the efforts under way in these 8 cities, we will understand the barriers and facilitators associated with Internet-based prevention efforts.


METHODS
This is a review of Internet activities taking place in 8 major US cities.


RESULTS
Efforts in the 8 cities vary, with some cities reporting little or no Internet-based prevention activities. Other cities have attempted banner advertising, online outreach, online partner notification, online laboratory slips for syphilis testing, and auditorium-style chat sessions.


CONCLUSIONS
Though a number of policy-related barriers prevent some cities from engaging in Internet-based prevention, these activities are clearly important to the overall prevention effort. In order to surmount local policy barriers, it is essential to obtain evaluation data from the programs initiated.
McFarlane
Mary
M
Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. xzm3@cdc.gov
Kachur
Rachel
R
Klausner
Jeffrey D
JD
Roland
Eric
E
Cohen
Marc
M
D002947:Cities; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population