Background:
In recent years there have been increased discussions surrounding STD risk factors, but in many instances data is lacking. The Rhode Island STD Program began to collect risk factor data systematically in 2003, but the initial results were disappointing.

Objective:
Increase the percentage of cases interviewed with associated risk factor information to establish a baseline of risk factors present in STD cases.

Method:
In 2002, a risk-factor questionnaire was developed by the Rhode Island STD Program to be used by the Diseases Intervention Specialists (DIS) when interviewing a client. Its use commenced in January 2003. Local fields associated with the interview records were created in STD*MIS for data entry and analysis. Early results were disappointing. After contacting a number of jurisdictions regarding the issue, a simplified version of the questionnaire was placed into use in July 2004 based on a questionnaire Minnesota utilizes.

Result:
From July 2003 to June 2004, the DIS performed 234 successful interviews. Of those interviews, the DIS completed 112 (48%) risk-factor questionnaires into STD*MIS. From July 2004, when the new questionnaire was placed into use, to June 2005, there were 319 successful interviews and the risk-factor questionnaire was completed on 204 (64%). From this data, a baseline was created and one of the findings was that there are MSMs whose only risk factor was contacting partners through the internet.

Conclusion:
It can be helpful to contact other jurisdictions for assistance/information rather then ‘recreating the wheel.' The use of a simple questionnaire increased the percentage of successful interviews that had associated risk-factor information. The collection of risk factor data may be able to ‘drive' program activities in the future.


Implications:
DIS must ‘buy-in' to the collection of the risk-factor data and it must become part of their interviewing routine. Simple questionnaires may provide better data then ‘scientific' questionnaires.