University Students' Perceived Benefits, Barriers and Cues to STD Testing

Background:
STDs are a major health problem among college students. Each year, more than 9 million new STD cases occur among young adults. STD testing rates remain low.

Objective:
This study examined the following research questions: 1) What percent of sexually active students have been tested for STDs? 2) Do STD testing rates differ based on gender, grade level, number of sexual partners and frequency of condom use? 3) What are the most frequently reported benefits, barriers, and cues to testing? 4) Do benefits, barriers and cues differ based on demographic variables?

Method:
A 60-item survey was completed by 319 students at a Midwestern university in the fall of 2006 (87% response rate). Content validity, stability reliability and internal consistency reliability were established a priori.

Result:
Results found that 78% ever had sexual intercourse, 82% ever had oral sex, and 22% ever had anal sex. Of those sexually active, 37% had ever been tested for an STD, while 78% felt that their sexual behaviors placed them at STD risk. The leading testing benefit was: "helps those infected get treatment." The leading barrier was "cost." The leading cue was: "if testing was free." Juniors/seniors were significantly more likely than freshmen/sophomores to have ever been tested. Those who had ever been tested had significantly more sexual partners. Females reported a significantly higher number of cues to testing than did males.

Conclusion:
Most sexually active students had never been tested for STDs. Three in four felt their sexual behaviors placed them at risk for contracting STDs.

Implications:
These findings should be shared and used by university health educators to develop effective interventions aimed at STD prevention. Specific attention should be focused on overcoming perceived barriers to testing, possibly by using highlighted cues or emphasizing perceived testing benefits.