Evaluation of a Theory-Based HIV Prevention Intervention for College Students

This study tested the effectiveness of a workshop for college students designed to increase HIV-preventive behavior by increasing participants' self-efficacy concerning HIV-preventive behavior. The Safer Sex Efficacy Workshop (SSE workshop) was compared with a lecture on HIV (HIV lecture) and a lecture on an unrelated topic, family violence (FV lecture); the effect of each condition on self-efficacy, behavioral intentions, and HIV-preventive behavior was assessed. Participants in the SSE workshop and the HIV lecture increased more from pretest to posttest in self-efficacy and the intention to use a condom than participants in the FV lecture. Participants in the SSE workshop increased their frequency of condom use from pretest to two-month follow-up more than participants in either of the two control conditions. Changes in the frequency of participants' discussion of AIDS and past partners with sexual partners and the intention to discuss did not differ among the three intervention conditions.