Study Details
St. Lawrence, J. S., Crosby, R. A., Brasfield, T. L., O'Bannon, R. E., III. (2002). Reducing STD and HIV risk behavior of substance-dependent adolescents: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70(4), 1010-1021.
Assisting in Rehabilitating Kids (ARK)
Program Information
Evaluation Setting
Study Sample
Research Design
161
3
12
Study Findings
The program was evaluated in a cluster randomized controlled trial involving substance-dependent adolescents recruited from two residential drug treatment facilities in Mississippi. Eight groups of adolescents were recruited for the study on a rolling basis over a three-year period from 1995 to 1998. Each group was randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) a treatment group that received the full ARK intervention, (2) an alternative treatment group that received the first 11 sessions of ARK but not the 12th session on motivation, or (3) a control group that received a standard health education curriculum. Study data were collected with surveys administered before the intervention (baseline), immediately after the intervention ended, and 6 and 12 months after the intervention ended.
The study found that immediately after the four-week intervention ended, adolescents participating in the intervention were significantly more likely to report being abstinent, having fewer sexual partners and fewer occasions of unprotected vaginal intercourse, and having more occasions of condom-protected intercourse. Six months after the intervention ended, program impacts on abstinence, unprotected vaginal intercourse, and condom-protected intercourse remained statistically significant. Program impacts on the number of sexual partners were no longer statistically significant. Twelve months after the intervention ended, program impacts on abstinence, unprotected vaginal intercourse, and condom-protected intercourse remained statistically significant. Program impacts on the number of sexual partners were not statistically significant.
The study also examined program impacts on the percentage of intercourse occasions that were condom protected. Findings for this outcome were not considered for the review because they did not meet the review evidence standards. Specifically, the outcome was measured for a subgroup of youth defined by sexual activity at follow up. Additionally, the study examined program impacts on measures of AIDS knowledge, attitudes toward condoms and HIV prevention, self-efficacy, perceived risk, skill acquisition, and substance use. Findings for these outcomes were not considered for the review because the outcomes fell outside the scope of the review.