ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 1998 April;133(2):109-17

Copyright © 1998 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Sexually transmitted disease knowledge in young conscripts. A pilot study on effects of information by videotapes during enlistment in the italian navy

Ingordo V. ¹, D’Andria G. ², Mazzocca F. ³, Penna G. ³, Gigantesco M. ⁴, Gregucci M. ³, Michelini M. ¹

¹ Ospedale Principale «M.O. Giulio Venticinque» - Taranto (Direttore: Cap. Vasc. Medico A. Baglivo), Reparto Dermatologia e Centro MTS (Capo Reparto: Cap. Freg. Medico V. Ingordo); ² Consulente per l’Attività di Studio dell’Ospedale Principale Marina Militare di Taranto; ³ Centro Addestramento e Reclutamento Marina Militare Servizio Sanitario (Capo Servizio: Cap. Freg. G. Penna); ⁴ Scuola di Sanità Marina Militare - Livorno (Direttore: Cap. Vasc. Medico M. Favro)

Background. The increase of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), particularly of viral ones and of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, required, in many countries, the setting up of specific strategies of health education, meant to modify risky sexual behaviours, as a result of information on clinical peculiarities, modalities of infection and prevention in main STD and HIV infection. Since young conscripts are a “population at risk” for STD and HIV infection, the aim of this study was to value if audiovisual aids, showed them in first drilling phases, might improve their information.
Materials and methods. So, a multiple-answers test has been submitted to a group of 63 conscripts before (phase I) and after (phase II) the “Aim: prevention” videotape vision, including information on main STD, on infection and prevention, realized in Taranto Italian Navy Hospital's STD Center. Answers have been evaluated statistically by χ2 test.
Results. Basic knowledge on main STD, except for HIV infection, resulted not very high. After videotape vision, a statistically-meaningful improvement has been found on global knowledge on main STD, on infection peculiarities and prevention modalities. Self-evaluation about personal degree of information resulted poor, non-statistically influenced by video. The majority pointed out that education on STD must be prevalently provided by school, followed by family and by doctor. This convinction has not been statistically modified by video. Contrarily, after the videotape has been showed, a statistically-meaningful increase has been demonstrated in the sample about knowledge of STD Centers and about right behaviours in case of symptom onset. The initiative has been judged “very interesting” by the majority, even if 36.5% of the subjects defined “not very clear” the message from the video.
Conclusions. Therefore, according to this study, information by videotape of young conscripts appears positive. But, from data examination, it seems advisable to complete this system with a discussion (questions-answers), guided by Medical Officers, to clear doubts and give more explanations. Following this method, the Italian Interforce Medical Corps are promoting a campaign of detailed health education about HIV infection and STD in the Italian Armed Forces.