Improving condom use intentions and behavior by changing perceived partner norms: an evaluation of condom promotion videos for college students.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effectiveness of 2 condom promotion videotapes on self-efficacy, intentions, and behavior.

DESIGN

Two hundred twenty college students completed social-cognitive and behavioral measures and were then randomly assigned to receive one of two 30-min condom promotion videotapes (male or female student presenters) or to a wait-list control condition. Participants who watched 1 of the videotapes completed immediate posttest measures, and 85% of participants completed a 4-month follow-up.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Self-efficacy for condom use, intentions to use condoms, use of condom during last sex, and consistent condom use over the last month.

RESULTS

Participants who received either video reported greater self-efficacy to refuse to have unprotected sex and intentions than controls at follow-up. Individuals who received either video were more likely than controls to report using a condom during last sex with a regular partner, and those who watched the female presenter were more likely to report consistent condom use.

CONCLUSION

Participants benefited in terms of self-efficacy and intentions from receiving either video, but both men and women benefited more in terms of condom use behavior from receiving the female video. Future research is needed to determine whether opposite-sex speaker videos could be beneficial with a larger (and more sexually active) sample and whether these effects are maintained over time.