Fishbein's Theory of Reasoned Action was used to formulate a persuasive communication in an attempt to influence unclassified American college students' beliefs, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors regarding signing up for a career as a registered nurse. A two-stage cluster sample was used to assign 90 male and female students to either an experimental or control group. After persuasive communication exposure, the experimental group showed a significantly more positive change in beliefs, attitudes, and intentions than did the control group exposed to a neutral message. Sign-up rate was also statistically significant for the experimental group. With the Fishbein model to predict sign-up behavior, no other scores were found to add to the prediction once behavioral intention was entered into the model. Change in behavioral intention explained 49% of the variation in behavior. Normative belief scores did not approach statistical significance.
Patients (N = 71) from a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in an urban setting were surveyed to determine their knowledge about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and attitudes toward condom use. Overall knowledge scores were high with a mean score of 22 on the 28-item true-false questionnaire. No statistical significance was found between AIDS-knowledge scores and condom-use behavior. The majority of subjects or their partners had STD symptoms and multiple partners within a 6-month period. Thirty percent of the respondents reported using condoms at least 25% of the time. In response to open-ended statements about condoms, 10 beliefs were mentioned most frequently. The majority of subjects reported protection against sexually transmitted disease and preventing pregnancy as the most important reasons for condom use. "Avoids getting AIDS" only ranked as the eighth most salient belief and few subjects with multiple partners in the previous 6-month period even cited this belief. Other significant beliefs about condom use included decreased feeling, worry about breakage, decreased pleasure for partner, uncomfortable, feeling safe, inconvenient, and not romantic. The most significant referent (normative belief) influencing condom-use decision making was "mother" in younger subjects and "sexual partner" for older subjects. The sexual partner had unfavorable attitudes toward condom use. These results indicate the need to incorporate attitudes and normative beliefs to change condom-use behavior.
College students were surveyed to determine their knowledge about AIDS and attitudes toward condom use. Overall scores were high, with a mean of 22.5 on the 28-item true-false questionnaire. Of the 81 percent of respondents who indicated they were presently or had been sexually active, only 40 percent reported using condoms; 87 percent expressed an intention to have vaginal intercourse and 18 percent to have rectal intercourse. From the open-ended questions about condoms, 37 beliefs were elicited and the 10 most frequently mentioned were identified. The majority of subjects reported protection against sexually transmitted diseases and preventing pregnancy as the most important reasons for using condoms. Forty-seven percent also believed condoms important for preventing AIDS. Other significant beliefs about condom use included that they cause less worry, interfere with spontaneous sexual response, decrease pleasure for self and/or partner, are inconvenient and uncomfortable, and decrease feeling. The most significant referents for deciding about condom use were mothers in younger subjects and sexual partners for older subjects. These results indicate the need for influencing attitudes and normative beliefs to change condom use behavior.
Selected college students and sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic patients of the same age were compared for knowledge about AIDS, use of condoms, sexual behaviours and intentions to engage in various sexual practices. The Theory of Reasoned Action model was used to elicit beliefs about condom use and significant referents who influence condom-use decision making. Eighty-seven per cent of college students were sexually active. College students had significantly fewer sexual partners in a 30-day period than STD patients, but in a 6-month period the mean number of sexual partners was the same for both groups. Significant difference was found in frequency of condom use for subjects with more than one partner. Of the college student sample, 60% did not use condoms compared with 32% of STD patients. Eighteen per cent of college students reported intention to engage in anal intercourse. No STD patients reported such intention. No statistical difference was found between groups on overall knowledge about AIDS: both groups manifested adequate knowledge of basic AIDS-related facts. Significant differences between groups were found in rank order of beliefs about using condoms as well as those referents who influenced decision making. Beliefs about disease, pregnancy, worry and normative influences of sexual partner and friends had the strongest impact on college students. Sexual partner and mother had a strong influence on STD patients' decision making while 'disease', 'pregnancy', 'decreases feeling' and 'decreases partner's pleasure' were among the beliefs influencing condom use.
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