Reduction of condom use errors from a brief, clinic-based intervention: a secondary analysis of data from a randomised, controlled trial of young black males.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that a brief, clinic-based, single-session programme will reduce the rate of 10 selected condom use errors in a clinical sample of young black men (YBM) ages 15 through 23 years.

Methods: Data were collected in clinics treating patients with sexually transmitted infections (STI) in three southern US cities. Males 15-23 years of age who identified as black/African-American, and reported recent (past 2 months) condom use were eligible. Only those also reporting condom use in the 2 months prior to a 6-month follow-up assessment (n=311) were included in this secondary analysis of data from a randomised, controlled trial. Difference scores were used to capture a Group×Time effect.

Results: YBM reported 2232 condom use events in the 2 months preceding study enrolment and 2042 in the 2 months preceding the follow-up assessment. Mean baseline error rates were 1.32 and 1.13 for young men randomised to the intervention and control conditions, respectively. Follow-up rates were 1.11 and 3.59 for young men randomised to the intervention and control conditions, respectively. Controlled findings yielded a significant effect for the influence of group assignment on the difference score (baseline to follow-up) in the condom use error rate (β=0.13; p=0.02).

Conclusions: A brief, clinic-based counselling programme produced modest reductions in condom use errors among YBM attending STI clinics in the southern USA Intensified clinic-based intervention that helps YBM improve the quality of their condom use behaviours is warranted.

Trial Registration Number: NCT00849823.