A human immunodeficiency virus posttest video to increase condom use among adolescent emergency department patients.

PURPOSE

To compare the effectiveness of a theory-based HIV educational video tool with in-person HIV counseling in promoting safer sex behaviors among adolescent patients of an urban Emergency Department (ED).

METHODS

This was a randomized controlled trial taking place in the Emergency Department of Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. A total of 203 stable, sexually active patients aged 15-21 years completed pre-intervention and postintervention measures. Participants were randomized to the intervention video series (102 participants), a theory-based, youth-friendly human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) educational video, or an in-person HIV counseling session with a trained HIV counselor (101 participants). Participants completed pre-intervention and postintervention measures on the primary outcomes: condom intention, outcome expectancy, and self-efficacy.

RESULTS

Participants in the video group improved condom use intention (adjusted differential mean improvement [ADMI] = .98 units; confidence interval [CI], .20-1.77; Holm adjusted p = .028), condom self-efficacy outcome (ADMI = .26 units; CI, .04-.48; Holm adjusted p = .019), and condom outcome expectancy scores (ADMI = .15 units; CI, .07-.23; Holm adjusted p < .001) significantly more than those in the counselor group, adjusting for stage of change. The intervention helped participants progress to the next level of readiness or maintain their positive behavior, and did not differ by age, gender, or race.

CONCLUSIONS

A theory-based, youth-friendly video can be a valid means to provide posttest HIV education and prevention messages within an urban emergency department. The theory-based prevention messages can improve teenagers' condom intentions, condom self-efficacy, and condom outcome expectancies immediately after the intervention.