Background
It is hard to convince people to
participate in chlamydia screening programs outside the clinical setting. In
two earlier studies (BMC Public Health. 2013;13:1091; J Med Internet Res.
2014;16(1):e24), we identified explicit and implicit determinants of chlamydia
screening behavior and attempted, unsuccessfully, to improve participation
rates by optimizing the recruitment letter. In the present study, we examined
the links between a number of social-cognitive determinants (e.g.,
stereotypical beliefs about a person with chlamydia, intentions, changes in
partner status), and self-reported chlamydia testing behavior six months after
the initial study.
Methods
The present study is a follow-up to our
first study (T0). We assessed self-reported testing behavior 6 months after the
first measure by means of an online questionnaire (T1; N = 269). Furthermore, at T1, we measured the
social-cognitive determinants in more detail, and explored the influence of
stereotypical beliefs and any changes in partner status during this six month
period.
Results
In total, 25 (9.1 %) of the
participants tested for chlamydia at some point during the six months between
baseline (T0) and follow up (T1). Testing behavior was influenced by testing
intentions in combination with changes in risk behavior. The higher the
participants’ own numbers of partners ever, the higher they estimated the
number of partners of the stereotypical person with chlamydia. Testing
intentions were most strongly predicted by perceived norms and susceptibility,
and having had multiple partners in the last 6 months (R2 = .41).
Conclusion
The most relevant determinants for
testing intentions and behavior were susceptibility, subjective norms and
changes in partner status. We found a systematic tendency for individuals to
underestimate their own risk, especially the risk of inconsistent condom use.
Future research should focus on more promising alternatives to population-based
interventions, such as online interventions, screening in primary care, the
rescreening of positives, and clinic-based interventions. This future research
should also focus on making testing easier and reducing barriers to testing, as
well as using social and sexual networks in order to reach more people.
Full article at: http://goo.gl/YDUjUQ
By:
Department
of Work & Social Psychology, Maastricht University
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-2689-6
More at: https://twitter.com/hiv insight
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