Focus on the Future

An Evidence-Based Practice

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

Focus on the Future is a one-on-one intervention for young African-American heterosexual men with a newly diagnosed sexually transmitted disease (STD). The clinic-based program is provided in addition to standard care at public STD clinics to offer information, motivation, and skills to increase correct and consistent condom use. African American male lay health advisers provide the intervention immediately following STD diagnosis in a culturally appropriate, non-judgmental manner. Participants are encouraged to protect themselves and their communities through condom use and reducing the number of sexual partners. Men are also educated about the variety of condoms and lubricants available and are given pocket-sized water-based lubricants and allowed to choose a dozen condoms from a variety of brands and sizes.

Goal / Mission

The goal of Focus on the Future is to reduce STD reinfections among young African American heterosexual males through correct and consistent condom use.

Results / Accomplishments

When compared to a control group that received standard care, men receiving the Focus on the Future intervention were significantly less likely to have a STD reinfection ( p < 0.02) within six months of receiving care. Intervention participants also reported fewer female partners than the control group at a 3-month follow-up (p < 0.0002) and were significantly more likely to report condom use during last sex (p < 0.03).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
University of Kentucky Department of Health Behavior
Primary Contact
Richard A. Crosby, PhD
Department of Health Behavior
College of Public Health, University of Kentucky
121 Washington Ave.
Lexington, KY 40506-0003
rcros2@email.uky.edu
Topics
Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases
Health / Men's Health
Organization(s)
University of Kentucky Department of Health Behavior
Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Date of publication
2009
Date of implementation
2004
Location
Kentucky
For more details
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/research/interventionr...
Target Audience
Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Additional Audience
Men

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Related Content for: Focus on the Future

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.