Assessing the Effects of an STD Educational Intervention on Greek Society College Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Safe Sex Behaviors

This study measured the effectiveness of an evidence-based educational intervention targeting STD prevention in Greek society members attending college and examined relationships between sexual health knowledge, attitudes toward safe sex behaviors, and sexual demographics. One hundred thirty-two Greek society members attending college participated. Instruments measured demographic characteristics, knowledge regarding sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and attitudes toward practicing safe sex behaviors at baseline and one week post-intervention. There was a significant increase in STD knowledge from baseline (M=13.03, SD=6.5) to one week (M=20.27, SD=4.9) t (131) = -13.53, p = .000. Fraternity members were more likely to report attitudes toward risky sexual behavior rs(132) = .323, p = .000, and as knowledge increased, attitudes became more favorable to safe sex behaviors (pre-STD knowledge and pre-intervention attitudes, r(132) = -.249, p = .004; post- STD knowledge and post-intervention attitudes, rs(132) = -.307, p = .000). Results support that a brief STD educational intervention can increase STD knowledge and improve attitudes toward safe sexual behaviors