Creating teachable moments: a clinic-based intervention to improve young men's sexual health.
A multicomponent health education intervention for men was integrated into initial visits at the Young Men's Clinic in New York City. In all, 157 predominantly low-income, Latino and African American patients completed pre- and post-test surveys to assess their sexual and reproductive health knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Paired t tests compared respondents' scores on outcome variables at baseline and follow-up. Intervention participants significantly increased their knowledge (e.g., emergency contraception) and frequency of safer sexual behaviors (e.g., condom use) during the 3 months following their initial visit. The intervention was not as successful promoting positive beliefs about health care utilization or attitudes about condoms. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the intervention. This study provides evidence that it is feasible to effectively disseminate sexual health information to men at each step of a routine clinic visit, including down time in waiting rooms and individual encounters with health educators and medical providers.
Armstrong
Bruce John
BJ
Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, New York, NY 10025, USA. ba5@columbia.edu
Kalmuss
Debra
D
Franks
Molly
M
Hecker
Gabrielle
G
Bell
David
D
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003151:Community Health Centers; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D049668:History, 15th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult