The purpose of this study was to identify preferences for content, method of delivery and frequency of information to encourage self-initiated sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing.
Design:
Qualitative study involving individual in-depth interviews with 35 college students aged 18–24 years.
Setting:
A university in Central Pennsylvania, USA.
Method:
Data were collected using a demographic and sexual history questionnaire, Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide. Transcribed interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.
Results:
Findings from the study document STI testing information preferences as they relate to self-initiated testing. The majority of participants preferred receiving STI testing information through email. Themes within their accounts included Actionable Information Content, Frequently Accessed Delivery Method, and Routine STI Testing Information.
Conclusion:
The high incidence of STIs among US college students is an indication of the need to increase diagnosis and treatment to reduce transmission. Study findings have implications for the development and evaluation of low-cost interventions to improve the uptake of STI testing and reduce STI burden among college students.
AdebayoOWGonzalez-GuardaRM (2017) Factors associated with HIV testing in youth in the United States: An integrative review. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care28(3): 342–362.
2.
AdebayoOWSalernoJP (2019) Facilitators, barriers, and outcomes of self-initiated HIV testing: An integrative literature review. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice: An International Journal33(3): 275–291.
AvuvikaEMaseseLNWanjeG, et al. (2017) Barriers and facilitators of screening for sexually transmitted infections in adolescent girls and young women in Mombasa, Kenya: A qualitative study. PLoS ONE12(1): e0169388.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018) STDs in Adolescents and Young Adults. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats17/adolescents.htm (accessed 30 March 2020).
7.
ColladoAJohnsonPSLoyaJM, et al. (2017) Discounting of condom-protected sex as a measure of high risk for sexually transmitted infection among college students. Archives of Sexual Behavior46(7): 2187–2195.
8.
ColorafiKJEvansB (2016) Qualitative descriptive methods in health science research. Health Environments Research & Design9(4): 16–25.
9.
CuffeKMNewton-LevinsonAGiftTL, et al. (2016) Sexually transmitted infection testing among adolescents and young adults in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health58(5): 512–519.
10.
CummingsL (2012) Scaring the public: Fear appeal arguments in public health reasoning. Informal Logic32(1): 25–50.
11.
CunninghamSDKerriganDLJenningsJM, et al. (2009) Relationships between perceived STD-related stigma, STD-related shame, and STD screening among a household sample of adolescents. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health41(4): 225–230.
12.
CypressBS (2017) Rigor or reliability and validity in qualitative research: Perspectives, strategies, reconceptualization, and recommendations. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing36(4): 253–263.
13.
DelauerVMcgill-O’RourkeAGordonC, et al. (2020) Human papillomavirus and health decision-making: Perceptions and accountability in college. Health Education Journal79: 46–57.
14.
Eastman-MuellerHPHabelMAOswaltSB, et al. (2019) Get Yourself Tested (GYT)campaign: Investigating campaign awareness and behaviors among high school and college students. Health Education & Behavior46(1): 63–71.
15.
FenklEAJonesSGOrtaR (2016) Young Hispanic men’s HIV and STI knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Hispanic Health Care International14(3): 109–115.
16.
FernandezSBHowardMHospitalM, et al. (2018) Hispanic students’ perceptions about HIV/STI testing and prevention: A mixed-methods study in a Hispanic-serving university. Health Promotion Practice20(5): 742–750.
17.
FielderRLCareyKBCareyMP (2013) Acceptability of sexually transmitted infection testing using self-collected vaginal swabs among college women. Journal of American College Health61(1): 46–53.
18.
FriedmanALBrookmeyerKAKachurRE, et al. (2014) An assessment of the GYT: Get Yourself Tested campaign: An integrated approach to sexually transmitted disease prevention communication. Sexually Transmitted Disease41(3): 151–157.
19.
GarbersSFriedmanAMartinezO, et al. (2016) Adapting the Get Yourself Tested campaign to reach Black and Latino sexual-minority youth. Health Promotion Practice17(5): 739–750.
20.
GilbertMThomsonKSalwayT, et al. (2019) Differences in experiences of barriers to STI testing between clients of the internet-based diagnostic testing service GetCheckedOnline.com and an STI clinic in Vancouver, Canada. Sexually Transmitted Infections95(2): 151–156.
21.
GilliamMOrzalliSHeathcockS, et al. (2012) From intervention to invitation: Reshaping adolescent sexual health through storytelling and games. African Journal of Reproductive Health16(2): 189–196.
22.
GoldsberryJMooreLMacmillanD, et al. (2016) Assessing the effects of a sexually transmitted disease educational intervention on fraternity and sorority members’ knowledge and attitudes toward safe sex behaviors. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners28(4): 188–195.
23.
GriebSDFlores-MillerAGulledgeN, et al. (2016) Vive!: Designing an intervention to improve timely HIV diagnosis among Latino immigrant men. Progress in Community Health Partnerships10(3): 365–372.
24.
HabelMABrookmeyerKAOliver-VeronesiR, et al. (2018) Creating innovative sexually transmitted infection testing options for university students: The impact of an STI self-testing program. Sexually Transmitted Disease45(4): 272–277.
25.
HabelMAHaderxhanajLHogbenM, et al. (2015) Does your college campus GYT? Evaluating the effect of a social marketing campaign designed to raise STI awareness and encourage testing. Cases in Public Health Communication & Marketing8: 51–70.
26.
HessKLJavanbakhtMBrownJM, et al. (2012) Intimate partner violence and sexually transmitted infections among young adult women. Sexually Transmitted Diseases39(5): 366–371.
27.
HickeyMTClelandC (2013) Sexually transmitted infection risk perception among female college students. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners25(7): 377–384.
28.
HsiehHFShannonSE (2005) Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research15(9): 1277–1288.
29.
IBM Corp (2017) IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.
30.
IwataKKatsudaY (2016) Somatic symptoms after sexual behavior with fear of four sexually transmitted diseases: A proposal of novel disorder. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care5(3): 706–708.
31.
JamesTGRyanSJ (2018) HIV knowledge mediates the relationship between HIV testing history and stigma in college students. Journal of American College Health66(7): 561–569.
32.
JanzNChampionVStrecherV (2002) The health belief model. In: GlanzKRimerBLewisF (eds) Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research, and Practice. 3rd ed.San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, pp. 45–66.
33.
JaworskiBCCareyMP (2007) Development and psychometric evaluation of a self-administered questionnaire to measure knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases. AIDS Behavior11(4): 557–574.
34.
JooreIKGeerlingsSEBrinkmanK, et al. (2017) The importance of registration of sexual orientation and recognition of indicator conditions for an adequate HIV risk-assessment. BMC Infectious Disease17(1): 178.
35.
JürgensenMTubaMFylkesnesK, et al. (2012) The burden of knowing: Balancing benefits and barriers in HIV testing decisions. A qualitative study from Zambia. BMC Health Service Research12: 2.
36.
LeonardNRRajanSGwadzMV, et al. (2014) HIV testing patterns among urban YMSM of color. Health Education Behavior41(6): 673–681.
37.
McFarlaneMBrookmeyerKFriedmanA, et al. (2015) GYT: Get Yourself Tested Campaign Awareness Associations with sexually transmitted disease/HIV testing and communication behaviors among youth. Sexually Transmitted Diseases42(11): 619–624.
38.
MaraynesMEChaoJHAgoritsasK, et al. (2017) Screening for asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhea in adolescent males in an urban pediatric emergency department. World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics6(3): 154–160.
39.
MeyerKLAhlers-SchmidtCRHarrisKR, et al. (2011) STI testing information available to teens on the internet: What’s missing?Journal of Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology24(2): e17–e19.
40.
MinersALlewellynCKingC, et al. (2018) Designing a brief behaviour change intervention to reduce sexually transmitted infections: A discrete choice experiment. International Journal of STD & AIDS29(9): 851–860.
41.
MorrisJLLippmanSAPhilipS, et al. (2014) Sexually transmitted infection related stigma and shame among African American male youth: Implications for testing practices, partner notification, and treatment. AIDS Patient Care STDS28(9): 499–506.
42.
MyrickJGWilloughbyJFVergheseRS (2015) How and why young adults do and do not search for health information: Cognitive and affective factors. Health Education Journal75(2): 208–219.
43.
OrchowskiLMGobinRLZlotnickC (2018) Correlates of condom use among community college women: The role of victimization, substance use, and mental health symptoms. American Journal of Sexuality Education13(2): 170–189.
44.
PassmoreJASJaspanHBMassonL (2016) Genital inflammation, immune activation and risk of sexual HIV acquisition. Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS11(2): 156–162.
45.
PolitDFBeckCT (2017) Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.
46.
RosenstockIM (1974) Historical origins of the health belief model. Health Education & Behavior2: 328–335.
47.
RosenstockIMStrecherVJBeckerMH (1988) Social learning theory and the health belief model. Health Education Quarterly15(2): 175–183.
48.
RostonASuletaKStempinskiK, et al. (2015) Get Yourself Tested 2011–2012: Findings and prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae at an urban public health system. International Journal of STD & AIDS26(5): 322–328.
49.
SalakoAAJeminusiOAOsinupebiOA, et al. (2012) Characteristics of clients accessing HIV counseling and testing services in a tertiary hospital in Sagamu, Southwestern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice15(4): 391–396.
50.
SandelowskiM (2000) Whatever happened to qualitative description?Research in Nursing & Health23: 334–340.
51.
SaundersBSimJKingstoneT, et al. (2017) Saturation in qualitative research: Exploring its conceptualization and operationalization. Quality & Quantity52(4): 1893–1907.
52.
SchoferH (2014) Circumcision of the man from an infectiological point of view. The Dermatologist66(1): 30–37.
53.
SimpsonJK (2017) Appeal to fear in health care: Appropriate or inappropriate?Chiropractic & Manual Therapies25: 27–27.
54.
TannenbaumMBHeplerJZimmermanRS, et al. (2015) Appealing to fear: A meta-analysis of fear appeal effectiveness and theories. Psychological Bulletin141(6): 1178–1204.
55.
TraegerMCornelisseVAsselinJ, et al. (2019) Association of HIV preexposure prophylaxis with incidence of sexually transmitted infections among individuals at high risk of HIV infection. Journal of the American Medical Association321(14): 1380–1390.
56.
WhiteleyLBBrownLKCurtisV, et al. (2018) Publicly available internet content as a HIV/STI prevention intervention for urban youth. Journal Primary Prevention39(4): 361–370.
57.
WirtzALKambaDJumbeV, et al. (2014) A qualitative assessment of health-seeking practices among and provision practices for men who have sex with men in Malawi. BMC International Health and Human Rights14: 20.
58.
WombacherKDaiMMatigJJ, et al. (2018) Using the integrative model of behavioral prediction to understand college students’ STI testing beliefs, intentions, and behaviors. Journal of American College Health66(7): 674–682.
