Focus on the Future
A single-session intervention to promote condom use and safer sex behaviors among young African American men

 Richard Crosby, PhD, Ralph J. DiClemente, PhD, Richard Charnigo, PhD, Gregory Snow, Adewale Troutman, MD
FOCUS

SUMMARY

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE, a one-to-one, single-session intervention, administered by a health advisor, is culturally appropriate for use among young (aged 18-29 years) heterosexual African American men newly diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Based on the behavioral skills model, this one hour long program consists of a personalized discussion, presentation of basic STI/HIV/AIDS and safer sex information, and condom use skills practice.

The developers first implemented FOCUS ON THE FUTURE in a field study at a public STI clinic located in a southern United States city. The field study took place between September 2004 and May 2006, and involved 266 participants who were screened and recruited after their STI diagnoses at the clinic. Men in the intervention group were significantly less likely to acquire subsequent STIs and significantly more likely to report using condoms during last sexual intercourse when compared to members of the control group. Men in the intervention group also reported significantly fewer sexual partners. In addition, based on a 9-point rating scale, these men had significantly higher condom application skill proficiency scores.

SUITABLE FOR USE IN

Minor adaptations make this program suitable for use with all adult male populations in clinic or community-based settings that offer HIV/AIDS and other STI services to men newly diagnosed with an STI. education or services to high-risk populations.

ORIGINAL INTERVENTION SAMPLE

Age, Gender
18-29 years old, 100% male

Race/Ethnicity
100% African-American

PROGRAM LENGTH

The single session intervention was designed to be delivered in approximately 50 minutes.

STAFFING REQUIREMENTS/TRAINING

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE is delivered by a male lay health adviser from the community. The Facilitator.s Manual provides detailed instructions and example scripts to help him implement the intervention. Three days of training for the health adviser are recommended. An outline for this training is provided as an appendix in this User's Guide.

   Injection Drug Users & Their Non-injecting Partners
   Gay/Bisexual Men
   STD Clinic Clients
   Women
   Minority Specific
   Other

ORIGINAL SITE
   Community-Based
   Clinic-Based

APPROACH
   Behavioral Skills Development
   Community Outreach
   Condom Education/Access
   HIV/STD Education
   Needle Cleaning/Exchange
   Self Efficacy/Self-Esteem

COMPONENTS
   Behavioral Skills Practice
   Group Discussion
   HIV Antibody Testing/Counseling
   Lectures
   Peer Counseling/Instruction
   Role Pay
   Safer Sex Communication/Negotiation
   Video
   Other
   

HAPPA PROGRAM PACKAGE

The HAPPA Program Package for this program includes:
  • Focus on the Future User's Guide
  • Facilitator's Manual
  • Adaptation Workbook
  • Photocopy Master of Contact Information Card
  • Photocopy Master Condom Application Card
  • HAPPA Evaluation Assistance Kit (includes the Evaluation Questionnaire)
  • Original Evaluation Instrument

  • Telephone technical support on implementation and evaluation for 1 year