This study examined characteristics of men who use gay chat boxes on the Internet, including dating behaviour and sexual risk-taking with sex partners who were initially met through chatting. Men on chat boxes were asked to complete a brief questionnaire on the Internet. The questionnaire contained questions on demographics, chatting-related variables, and dating and risk-taking sexual behaviour. The results show that a large majority of the 190 respondents reported actual encounters as well as sex with men who were initially met through chatting. Almost 30% of the respondents who engaged in sex with chat dates reported inconsistent safe sexual behaviour. The level of unprotected sex increased as the number of sex partners who were met through chatting increased. These results suggest that chatters on the Internet may be a new target group for HIV prevention. Further study is needed to gain insight into the feasibility of prevention efforts for this target group.
Op 6 februari 2007 gaf het Ministerie van VWS een nieuwsbericht uit: ''Waarschuwingsplaatjes op tabaksverpakking effectief''. Dit bericht was gebaseerd op het rapport van Research voor Beleid ''Kleurenfoto's op tabaksverpakkingen ''. 1 Echter, die conclusie dat waarschuwingsplaatjes op tabaksverpakkingen effectief zijn is in het licht van de theoretische en empirische evidentie onjuist en het rapport bestaat voor een deel uit halve waarheden. We zullen dat hieronder beargumenteren, tot een andere conclusie komen en een alternatief presenteren. De evidentieEr zijn theoretische en empirische bronnen voor evidentie. Theorieën over angstaanjagende voorlichting onderscheiden vier relevante variabelen: ernst (hoe ernstig zijn de consequenties?), persoonlijke relevantie (kan het mijzelf overkomen?), uitkomstverwachting (is er iets tegen te doen?) en eigen-effectiviteitsverwachting (lukt me dat?). De combinatie van hoge relevantie, hoge uitkomstverwachting en hoge eigen-effectiviteit biedt de meeste kans op gedragsverandering. Enige ernstinschatting is wel nodig, maar dat niveau is al snel bereikt. Andere combinaties, vooral een hoge ernst, een hoge persoonlijke relevantie, maar een lage uitkomstverwachting en lage eigen-effectiviteit, leiden meestal niet tot gedragsverandering en kunnen zelfs een averechts effect hebben in de vorm van een defensieve reactie. Het zou veel beter zijn om via tabaksverpakking, analoog aan de zogenaamde minimale interventie, zonder toevoeging van enge teksten en plaatjes, rokers duidelijk te maken dat er goede methoden zijn om met roken te stoppen en dat rokers hulp kunnen krijgen via een website, telefoonnummer of hun huisarts. Daarnaast kan het Ministerie van VWS zich richten op de invoering en handhaving van een rookverbod in de horeca, de opname van hulp bij Stoppen met Roken in het basispakket van de zorgverzekering en een nog hogere prijs voor tabak; allemaal maatregelen waarvan de effectiviteit is bewezen. Daarbij zou VWS er goed aan doen om aanvullend te investeren in een inspirerende planmatige publiekscampagne die mensen niet bang maakt, maar hen helpt om hun leven beter onder controle te krijgen.
This study examined characteristics of men who use gay chat boxes on the Internet, including dating behaviour and sexual risk-taking with sex partners who were initially met through chatting. Men on chat boxes were asked to complete a brief questionnaire on the Internet. The questionnaire contained questions on demographics, chatting-related variables, and dating and risk-taking sexual behaviour. The results show that a large majority of the 190 respondents reported actual encounters as well as sex with men who were initially met through chatting. Almost 30% of the respondents who engaged in sex with chat dates reported inconsistent safe sexual behaviour. The level of unprotected sex increased as the number of sex partners who were met through chatting increased. These results suggest that chatters on the Internet may be a new target group for HIV prevention. Further study is needed to gain insight into the feasibility of prevention efforts for this target group.
BackgroundThe capacity to form romantic relationships and sexual health of adolescents in the Netherlands are compromised by several factors, including young age of first intercourse and adolescent depression. Several thresholds like own expenses, trust and embarrassment prevent adolescents to seek help for their sexual problems. To overcome these thresholds, brief sex counselling has been developed. It has been used since 2006 within the Rotterdam-Rijnmond Public Health Service, but there is lack of information about the (cost-) effectiveness. In the current study we will evaluate the (cost-) effectiveness of brief sex counselling for sexual problems in adolescents and young adults between 18 and 25 years of age.MethodsIn a randomised controlled trial we will compare (1) brief sex counselling with (2) intensive sexological treatment, and (3) delayed treatment (waiting list). Embedded in this RCT will be a trial-based economic evaluation, looking at the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of brief sex counselling versus the two other interventions. Four hundred fifty adolescents (aged 18-25) with sexual problems will be recruited among the persons who visit the Public Health Service (PHS) and through various websites. After a screening procedure, eligible participants will be randomly allocated to one of the three intervention groups. Primary outcome measure of the clinical evaluation is the severity of sexual problems. Other outcomes include psychological distress, especially depression. The economic evaluation will be performed from a societal perspective. Costs will be assessed continuously by a retrospective questionnaire covering the last 3 month. All outcome assessments (including those for the economic evaluation) will take place via the internet at baseline, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after baseline.DiscussionThe proposed research project will be the first study to provide preliminary data about the effect and cost-effectiveness of brief sex counselling in youth in comparison with intensive sexological treatment and delayed treatment. It is anticipated that positive results in (cost-) effectiveness of the proposed intervention will contribute to the improvement of sexual health care for adolescents and young adults.Trial registrationThe study has been registered at the Netherlands Trial Register, part of the Dutch Cochrane Centre (NTR1952)
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