Marseille 2007
| Abstract #531 - When Philip met John: using empathy to help people set realistic safer sex plans (option II) | ||||
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Session: 26.51: Posters B (Poster) on Tuesday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Dr michael evangeli - stellenbosch university, South Africa |
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| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: There have been recent successful uses of interactive computerized approaches to mental health problems. Computerized approaches may be particularly relevant to sexual behaviour change as they offer a private, individualised, potentially engaging and interactive opportunity for emotions and cognitions relating to sexual behaviour to be elicited and reflected upon. The sexual skills module forms part of an internet-based sexual health secondary prevention intervention developed and currently being tested in a UK multi centre feasibility trial. | ||||
| Method / Issue: The sexual skills module has two components that will be displayed: Developing a plan - this gives users the option of developing a detailed `action' and `coping' plan relating to a specific safer sex goal. This approach is based on the theoretical framework of Implementation Intentions, which suggests that behavioural intentions are more likely to be enacted if there are specific plans that link behavioural routines to environmental cues. Presentation of a sexuality-specific interactive vignette/dilemma relating to a specific safer sex goal. This aims to engage the user in a story that they can empathise with (i.e., a realistic and understandable situation where they can feel some identification with and concern for the character) but which is distinct enough from their own experience to reduce defensiveness. The aim is that users will be able to apply the understanding created through the interactive nature of the vignettes to their own situation. Considerations and feedback that influenced the development of the above components will be discussed. | ||||
| Results / Comments: The intervention is currently being evaluated and early results will be discussed. | ||||
| Discussion: Implications for HIV/STI prevention using computerized and other approaches will be explored. | ||||
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