The IMB model provides a framework to further understanding of the determinants of condom use in a STD clinic sample. Reducing sexual risk behavior among clients of an STD clinic is important because such clients are at substantial risk of contracting HIV and other STDs and sustaining STDs throughout their communities (
CDC, 2007b;
Leichliter, et al., 2007). Although empirical tests of the IMB model for condom use have been conducted with heroin addicts (
Bryan, et al., 2000), Indian truck drivers (
Bryan, et al., 2001), and incarcerated juvenile offenders (
Robertson, et al., 2006), the current study is the first to examine the determinants of condom use with this framework among STD clinic patients who have had prior STD treatment compared to those who had not been previously treated for a STD. Overall, the IMB model fit the data well and accounted for 32% (29% among patients with prior STD treatment, 47% among patients with no prior STD treatment) of the variability in condom use. Results from the SEM supported some, but not all, of the associations between information, motivation, and behavioral skills to condom use.
Contrary to the IMB model, information was negatively associated with behavioral skills and showed no association with condom use. Prior research examining the IMB model has found inconsistencies in the associations between information and behavioral skills (
Anderson, et al., 2006;
Bryan, et al., 2001;
W. A. Fisher, Williams, Fisher, & Malloy, 1999) and information and HIV-preventative behavior (
J. D. Fisher, Fisher, Williams, & Malloy, 1994;
S. C. Kalichman, Picciano, & Roffman, 2008;
Mustanski, Donenberg, & Emerson, 2006;
Robertson, et al., 2006).
Fisher and Fisher (1992) suggest the inconsistent findings for the association between information and behavior may be attributed to (a) methodological and/or (b) conceptual problems. First, information is likely to have a direct association with behavior when both are measured at the same level of specificity (e.g., condom information and use). In the current study, we assessed information using two general measures of HIV and STD information. To test whether information specific to condom use had a direct effect on behavioral skills or behavior, we reanalyzed the model using the three condom information items as a sole indicator of information but found the paths between information and (a) behavioral skills and (b) behavior remained similar to the original model; these analyses indicate that the negative association between information and behavioral skills and the null association of knowledge to condom use is unlikely due to measurement. Second, inconsistencies regarding the information component of the IMB model may be more conceptually problematic. Many researchers have suggested that information is an important but unnecessary precursor to HIV-risk prevention behavior, especially when that behavior is complicated (
J. D. Fisher & Fisher, 1992).
Methodological and conceptual problems, as well as sample characteristics, may explain inconsistencies between information and behavioral skills. First, studies examining the IMB model typically use a proxy measure of behavioral skills such as self-efficacy. Research has shown confidence regarding condom use may not be indicative of actual condom skills (
Langer, Zimmerman, & Cabral, 1994). Individual-level information regarding HIV-prevention methods may predict an individual's perceived ability to enact risk reducing behavior but may not predict an individual's ability to enact condom use skills in a sexual situation. In this study, we found that information was negatively related to
enacted condom skills (e.g., refusing to have unprotected sex). Perhaps STD patients – who may have participated in counseling and testing but not skills training – exhibit high levels of HIV knowledge but cannot enact risk reduction behavior. Second, post-hoc analyses examining participant characteristics associated with information indicated that younger patients were more likely to respond correctly to the four types of HIV-information (
ps < .01). Age-related differences in condom skills have also been found among substance abusers in treatment (
S. Kalichman, et al., 2002). Finally, condom use (and condom skills) involves communication and negotiation with a partner; HIV-prevention information on the part of one partner may have less impact on dyadic behavior. Examining the IMB model at the dyadic level may elucidate the role of information in condom skills and behavior (
Harman & Amico, 2008).
Consistent with the IMB model, condom-related motivation had a direct effect on both behavioral skills and condom use, whereas behavioral skills had a direct effect on condom use. Results suggest that STD clinic patients who are highly motivated are likely to acquire the requisite skills to enact HIV-preventative behavior. Likewise, motivation to engage in condom use predicted condom use behavior irrespective of behavioral skills. Multiple-groups analyses showed stronger associations between motivation and condom use among participants who had not been treated for a STD compared with those who had. Previous research has shown that STD repeaters often fail to return for posttest counseling (
Hightow, et al., 2003;
Hightow, et al., 2004;
S. C. Kalichman & Cain, 2008). Testing positive for STDs, and receiving subsequent treatment, may be ineffective for increasing motivation and reducing sexual risk behavior because patients eschew counseling aimed at increasing motivation and providing skills training.
These findings suggest that interventions among STD clinic patients should focus on activities addressing condom use motivation and behavioral skills. Consistent with recommendations set forth by
Fisher and Fisher (1992), elicitation research should be conducted to identify STD clinic patients’ motivation and behavioral skills deficits associated with condom use, and interventions should be developed targeting those deficits (
Johnson, Carey, Chaudoir, & Reid, 2006). Because “STD repeaters” show less motivation for condom use, interventions for patients with a history of STD treatment should focus more on enhancing motivation for risk reduction followed by more intensive skill-based interventions. In contrast, interventions among patients who have not had prior STD treatment might focus on increasing specific behavioral skills.
Limitations
Several factors are important in interpreting these findings. First, we tested a theoretical model using SEM with specified paths, implying directionality among the constructs using cross-sectional data. Thus, direction of the effects cannot be determined from these data; longitudinal data are needed to study the effects of condom use over time. Second, this sample of adult STD clinic patients may not be representative of all STD clinic patients. Nonetheless, examining determinants of condom use among at-risk clinic patients is important given the health threats and disparities evident in low-income urban communities. Finally, data were gathered from self-reports, which are imperfect indicators of behavior. We minimized this problem by using ACASI, which are known to reduce under-reporting of sensitive information (
Des Jarlais, et al., 1999;
Newman, et al., 2002;
Schroder, Carey, & Vanable, 2003).