ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: A theory-based curriculum designed to delay the onset of intercourse and increase use of condoms was implemented in the classrooms of six Los Angeles middle schools. METHODS: The curriculum activities were very interactive, emphasized skill building, and were implemented by well trained peer educators, including young HIV-positive males and teen mothers. To evaluate the impact of the curriculum, 102 classrooms of students were randomly assigned to receive either the existing curriculum or the existing curriculum plus the intervention curriculum. Students completed confidential questionnaires before program implementation, five months later, and 17 months later. A total of 1,657 students completed both the baseline and 17-month follow-up questionnaires. RESULTS: Analyses of these data revealed that the curriculum significantly increased knowledge, significantly improved only two out of 21 attitudes or beliefs, and did not significantly change sexual or contraceptive behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Well implemented programs that are based on upon theory, use interactive activities, and utilize well-trained peer educators do not always change important sexual attitudes and behaviors among middle school youth.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/prevention & control , Adolescent Behavior , Pregnancy in Adolescence/psychology , School Health Services/standards , Sex Education/standards , Sexual Behavior/psychology , Adolescent , Analysis of Variance , Child , Condoms/statistics & numerical data , Contraception Behavior , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Los Angeles , Male , Peer Group , Pregnancy , Pregnancy in Adolescence/statistics & numerical data , Program Evaluation , Sexual Abstinence , Sexual Behavior/statistics & numerical data , Treatment FailureABSTRACT
The efficacy of a transdermal nicotine patch in facilitation of smoking cessation was evaluated in a randomized double-blind trial. Sixty-five smokers who were highly dependent on cigarettes participated in the study, which included a behavioral smoking-cessation program. The rates of continuous abstinence were significantly higher in the nicotine group both initially (55% versus 34%) and at 3 weeks (18% versus 6%). Certain smoking withdrawal symptoms, including negative affect and hypoarousal, were effectively relieved by the nicotine patch. There was a trend toward a reduction in cigarette craving, whereas hunger and habit withdrawal symptoms were not affected. The main side effect associated with the nicotine patch was skin irritation. These findings suggest that a nicotine skin patch may be a useful aid to smoking cessation; however, the combination of other techniques with nicotine replacement may provide a more effective treatment for symptoms such as craving for cigarettes.
