Sex Is Like Jelly Beans: Educating Students on the Risks of Oral Sex

Abstract

This study provides a description of an innovative workshop that educated college students about the risks of unprotected sexual behavior, particularly oral sex, and methods of risk reduction using a metaphor of "sharing and eating jelly beans." Intervention development was guided by the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model. Ninety-five students attended this workshop, with 69 (73%) participating in a workshop assessment in the form of a one-group pretest-posttest design with no control group. The surveys obtained information about participants' demographics, sexual experience, protective sexual behaviors, perception of risk, motivation to engage in protective behaviors, and response to the workshop. Most participants rated the workshop as "very useful," and many reported the jelly bean metaphor specifically interesting and effective. Motivation to use condoms during oral sex significantly increased after the workshop, as did motivation to use condoms during vaginal and anal sex. Most participants were also motivated to get tested for sexually transmitted infections and obtain human papillomavirus vaccination. This educational workshop is easy to implement to promote engagement in protective behaviors and could be adapted to be part of an existing health program or delivered as a stand-alone workshop.

Behavioral Interventions to Increase Condom Use Among College Students in the United States: A Systematic Review

“…In their study, Helion et al (2008) used a randomized trial to determine the effectiveness of HIV/STI prevention DVDs recorded using Black, White, or combinations of Black and White presenters. Although not stated, the intervention seems similar to those that used the IMB model including the studies by Moore and Harris (2014), Norton et al (2012), and O’Grady et al (2009). Similar to the three studies mentioned, the 12 topics included in the DVDs focused on information, motivation, and behavioral skills needed for condom use.…”

“…The study designs included experimental (Calloway et al, 2014; Ellis, Homish, Parks, Collins, & Kiviniemi, 2015; Helion, Reddy, Kies, Morris, & Wilson, 2008; Kiene & Barta, 2006; Norton, Fisher, Amico, Dovidio, & Johnson, 2012; O’Grady, Wilson, & Harman, 2009) and quasi-experimental (termed quantitative approach; one group pretest–posttest study design ; Moore & Harris, 2014). The number of study participants ranged from 95 to 198 (Moore & Harris, 2014; Norton et al, 2012). The mean age of study participants ranged from 18.6 to 22.2 years (Helion et al, 2008; Norton et al, 2012).…”

“…Six of the seven articles included in this systematic review explicitly stated the behavior theory used to conceptualize the intervention, with four studies using the information, motivation, and behavioral skills (IMB) model (Kiene & Barta, 2006; Moore & Harris, 2014; Norton et al, 2012; O’Grady et al, 2009). The IMB model, proposed by Fisher and Fisher, was initially developed to guide HIV prevention interventions; however, it has been adapted for various STI and pregnancy prevention interventions (Anderson et al, 2006; Fisher & Fisher, 1992; Fisher, Fisher, Williams, & Malloy, 1994; Walsh, Senn, Scott-Sheldon, Vanable, & Carey, 2011; Zhang et al, 2011).…”

“…The IMB model consists of three constructs that influence behavioral adherence: information, motivation, and behavioral skills (Fisher & Fisher, 1992). The IMB model suggests that the aforementioned are (1) key components of sexual risk behavioral change, (2) determinants of preventative behavior, (3) indicative of whether behaviors will actually be performed, and (4) needed to understand and change an individual’s health behaviors (Kiene & Barta, 2006; Moore & Harris, 2014; Norton et al, 2012; O’Grady et al, 2009). Based on this behavior theory, it can be posited that providing college students with (1) information about STIs and condoms, (2) motivation to implement STI prevention behaviors including condom use, and (3) behavioral skills, such as condom application, will result in increased condom use or intention to use condoms.…”

“…Moore and Harris (2014) used a one-group, pre-/posttest to examine the effectiveness of an STI prevention workshop developed using the three constructs of the IMB model. The workshop provided information (STI transmission, STI symptoms, and oral sex), motivation (STI prevalence, condom demonstration, and partner discussion), and behavioral skills (methods of prevention and condom demonstration, STI testing methods/costs/locations, and partner discussion) training.…”