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(Ivanhoe Newswire) Playing a simple video on the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) while people are waiting to be seen in an STD clinic can reduce the prevalence of these conditions.
Thats the key finding from investigators who tested a video called Safe in the City in clinics in three U.S. cities. In each of the clinics, researchers compared future STDs among patients who watched the videos with those in patients who came to the clinic when the videos were not playing.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study involved more than 38,600 people. The rate of sexually transmitted infections was a little under five percent in the people who saw the video, compared to nearly six percent in those who did not see the video. The video appeared to make the biggest impact on male patients, who were 13 percent less likely to develop an infection after seeing the program, as well as those who were diagnosed with an infection at the beginning of the study. They were 14 percent less likely to develop another infection.
The authors note more complex prevention systems involving group counseling of high risk individuals may result in an even lower incidence of future infections, but note the low cost and ease of use of the waiting room video might make it the most practical choice for preventing STDs.
SOURCE: PLoS Medicine, published online June 23, 2008
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