Improving Condom Use in Undergraduate College Students

Inconsistent condom use and risky sexual practices in traditional college-aged men and women places these young adults in a vulnerable healthcare state. There has been a rise in sexually transmitted infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Healthy People (HP) 2020 have identified this concern and have developed objectives and targets to address it. A study to improve condom use was done utilizing a convenience sample, from a small, private liberal arts institution. Study participants were randomized to three arms of the study. This study, involved a pretest-posttest design and utilized several measurement tools. The tools included the Condom Use Self-Efficacy Scale (CUSES), the Outcome Evaluation for Condom Use Measure, the Modified Condom Barriers Scale, the Condom Use Expectancy Scale and the Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge Scale. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: Self-Report Version (AUDIT) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) were used as moderators of the intervention response. This study found that a one-hour PowerPoint presentation may be used to increase condom use in undergraduate college students and a pamphlet is an educational tool that may be used to increase the sexual and reproductive health knowledge of undergraduate college students