Profile of Callers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Sexually Transmitted Diseases Hotline

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funds a national telephone hotline as a source of information for persons with questions about sexually transmitted diseases. Hotline callers were last surveyed in 1980. GOAL: To determine the current profile of callers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National sexually transmitted diseases hotline, assess their concerns, and identify their sources for the hotline telephone number. STUDY DESIGN: The survey sampled 1,100 callers: 19 per day distributed across 3 work shifts using a systematic random selection process. Nine short-answer questions were asked, and passively collected data were recorded. RESULTS: The survey showed callers' demographics (68.4% white); socioeconomics (47.6% with incomes < $15,000); residence (79.8% urban); information requests (20.7% general sexually transmitted diseases); concerns about exposure or infection (76.5% concerned they might be infected); acceptance of referrals (35.7% to public clinics); and hotline telephone number sources (20.4% from pamphlets). CONCLUSIONS: The hotline is called by persons from all segments of the public and addresses their concerns.