Kelly N C, Zimet G D, Aalsma M C, Bernstein D I, Fortenberry J D, Rosenthal S L
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Sex Transm Infect. 2009 Aug;85(4):296-9. doi: 10.1136/sti.2008.032847. Epub 2009 Feb 11.
Understanding the intention-behaviour association with HSV-2 testing is important because it can inform interventions that might be needed to support an effective HSV-2 control programme. This study aims to understand attitudinal, symptomatic and historical precursors to intent to accept, and acceptance of, HSV-2 testing.
The sample included 900 individuals recruited from four sites located in two US cities. Participants completed self-report questionnaires. Expressed intent to accept HSV-2 testing was assessed with an item that asked about acceptance of a test with the same characteristics as the test offered later. The health behaviour outcome was acceptance of the HSV-2 test when it was offered. Predictors examined were STI history, genital symptoms, anxiety and STI-related stigma.
Expressed intent significantly predicted test acceptance. However, a number of participants made testing decisions which were at odds with their stated intent. Genital symptoms and STI history significantly predicted both greater intent and test acceptance. STI stigma only predicted lower intent, whereas anxiety only predicted greater acceptance. Intent fully mediated the relationship between genital symptoms and test acceptance, but did not mediate the relationship between STI history and test acceptance.
This study suggests that intent does not always predict behaviour, even when the two are measured within close temporal proximity. There are factors that may predict intent only or behaviour only, or may predict behaviour, but solely through influencing intent. Understanding how these various relationships work may be important to efforts designed to maximise acceptance of HSV-2 testing.
了解与单纯疱疹病毒2型（HSV - 2）检测相关的意图 - 行为关联很重要，因为它可为支持有效的HSV - 2控制计划所需的干预措施提供信息。本研究旨在了解接受HSV - 2检测的意图及实际接受检测的态度、症状和历史先兆。
样本包括从美国两个城市的四个地点招募的900名个体。参与者完成了自我报告问卷。通过询问是否接受与后来提供的检测具有相同特征的检测项目来评估表达的接受HSV - 2检测的意图。健康行为结果是在提供HSV - 2检测时是否接受检测。所考察的预测因素包括性传播感染史、生殖器症状、焦虑和与性传播感染相关的耻辱感。
表达的意图显著预测了检测接受情况。然而，许多参与者做出的检测决定与他们声明的意图不一致。生殖器症状和性传播感染史显著预测了更高的意图和检测接受率。性传播感染耻辱感仅预测了更低的意图，而焦虑仅预测了更高的接受率。意图完全介导了生殖器症状与检测接受之间的关系，但未介导性传播感染史与检测接受之间的关系。
本研究表明，即使意图和行为在相近的时间范围内进行测量，意图也并不总是能预测行为。存在一些因素可能仅预测意图或仅预测行为，或者可能预测行为，但仅通过影响意图来实现。了解这些各种关系如何起作用对于旨在最大限度提高HSV - 2检测接受率的努力可能很重要。
