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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Lindsay J. Ward, MS¹, Colleen Flanigan, RN, MS², Martha Newcomb, RN¹, Elena Rizzo, MA², Elizabeth Herlihy, RN, BSN, MS², and Marilyn A. Kacica, MD, MPH². (1) Bureau of STD Control, New York State Department of Health, Corning Tower, Room 1168, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, 518-474-3598, ljw02@health.state.ny.us, (2) Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, New York State Department of Health, Corning Tower, Room 651, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237

Background: Persons presenting to sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics engage in risk behaviors that put them at risk for not only STDs, but also for HIV, and viral hepatitis. Utilizing an integrated risk assessment tool allows STD clinics to address patient's multiple risks in a timely manner and provide appropriate interventions when needed.

Goals: To develop, implement, and evaluate an integrated risk assessment questionnaire.

Study Design: A self-administered risk assessment questionnaire was developed, and piloted in seven county STD clinics in Upstate New York from April 1 to September 30, 2004. The questionnaire was administered to each client at their initial visit, excluding those clients revisiting the clinic ≤ 30 days from their original visit.

Results: A total of 2,650 questionnaires were completed. Study respondents were mostly male (61%), white (64%) and over 30 years of age (34%). Based on responses to individual questions on sexual risk behaviors, the most frequently reported risks were inconsistent condom use (86%), illegal drug use (63%), having sex while high on drugs and alcohol (53%), ≥10 lifetime sexual partners (46%), and reporting a history of STDs (26%). Preliminary analysis revealed differences in selected risk behaviors by age, gender and race.

Conclusions: This questionnaire effectively identified high-risk behaviors for STDs, HIV and viral hepatitis, thereby supporting the delivery of comprehensive client specific targeted education services utilizing one comprehensive tool in an effort to prevent missed opportunities.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify risk behaviors that are common to sexually transmitted diseases, human immunodeficiency virus and viral hepatitis.
• Assess the use of an integrated risk assessment questionnaire.
• Provide program planners with an example of an integrated tool they can use to develop targeted intervention strategies.

Keywords: Risk Assessment, STD

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.pdf format, 662.5 kb)