Hu Xingdi, Dodd Virginia J, Oliverio James C, Cook Robert L
Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
BMC Res Notes. 2014 Mar 26;7:178. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-178.
Alcohol misuse remains a major risk factor for contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) not typically addressed in STD clinic settings. Information and communication technology (ICT) can offer new avenues to deliver evidence-based screening and treatment for problematic drinking, however, few data exists regarding the utilization of ICT among STD clinic attendees with coexisting drinking problems. The objectives of this study are to identify STD clinics attendees with hazardous drinking, to examine socio-demographic factors associated with ICT use, and to explore individuals' interests in engaging in ICT-based health interventions.
Cross-sectional questionnaires examining alcohol consumption and ICT use were administered to 396 persons attending two non-urban STD clinics. Descriptive statistics for ICT use were calculated for both hazardous drinkers and the entire sample. Multivariable logistic regression models among hazardous drinkers identified factors significantly associated with use of each kind of ICT.
The mean age of the 396 participants was 25 years, 66% were females and 60% were African-Americans. One third of the sample met the criteria of hazardous drinking. ICT use in hazardous drinkers included 94% reporting having internet access at least monthly, 82% reporting having an email account, 85% reporting currently owning a cell phone, and 91% reporting use of any cell phone application. More than two thirds (73%) of hazardous drinkers were willing to play health-related video games during clinic waiting time, slightly higher than the entire sample (69%). Multivariable analyses indicated that younger age were significantly related to monthly internet use, and multifunction cell phone use, while being males and younger age were significantly associated with monthly video game playing.
Our study demonstrates commonality of ICT use among STD clinic attendees with hazardous drinking, indicating the viability of using ICT to assist screening and behavioural intervention for alcohol misuse in STD clinic settings. Future research is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of ICT-based health behavioural interventions in the STD clinic settings or other venues that serve populations at high risk for substance abuse, HIV or other STDs.
酒精滥用仍然是感染性传播疾病（STD）的主要风险因素，而这在性病门诊环境中通常未得到充分关注。信息通信技术（ICT）可为有问题饮酒行为提供基于证据的筛查和治疗开辟新途径，然而，关于存在饮酒问题的性病门诊就诊者对ICT的使用情况，相关数据很少。本研究的目的是识别有危险饮酒行为的性病门诊就诊者，检查与ICT使用相关的社会人口学因素，并探索个体参与基于ICT的健康干预措施的兴趣。
对两家非城市性病门诊的396名就诊者进行了关于酒精消费和ICT使用情况的横断面问卷调查。分别计算了危险饮酒者和整个样本中ICT使用情况的描述性统计数据。在危险饮酒者中建立多变量逻辑回归模型，以确定与各类ICT使用显著相关的因素。
396名参与者的平均年龄为25岁，66%为女性，60%为非裔美国人。三分之一的样本符合危险饮酒标准。危险饮酒者的ICT使用情况包括：94%报告至少每月上网一次，82%报告有电子邮件账户，85%报告目前拥有手机，91%报告使用过任何手机应用程序。超过三分之二（73%）的危险饮酒者愿意在门诊候诊期间玩与健康相关的视频游戏，略高于整个样本（69%）。多变量分析表明，年龄较小与每月上网和使用多功能手机显著相关，而男性和年龄较小与每月玩视频游戏显著相关。
我们的研究表明，有危险饮酒行为的性病门诊就诊者在ICT使用方面具有共性，这表明在性病门诊环境中利用ICT协助筛查和对酒精滥用进行行为干预是可行的。未来需要开展研究，以证明基于ICT的健康行为干预措施在性病门诊环境或其他为药物滥用、艾滋病毒或其他性传播疾病高危人群服务的场所中的有效性。
