Characteristics of included trials
| Trial location and dates | Population* | Number recruited (% female) | Age of participants (years) | Follow up | Intervention length and format | Trial quality | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jadad score | Recruitment rate | Adherence rate | Follow up rate (at end point) | ||||||
| *The terms used to describe sexuality and ethnic groups reflect those used in the original papers. | |||||||||
| †Results reported for the NIMH trial relate only to those recruited from sexual health clinics. This study also recruited women from community Health Service Organisations (total n = 3706).16 | |||||||||
| Balmer, 199817 Nairobi, Kenya (trial dates not stated) | Men with current STI | 240 (0%) | Not reported | 6 months | 26×60 minutes weekly small group sessions | 0 | Not stated | Not stated | 93% intervention |
| 44% control | |||||||||
| Boyer, 199724 San Francisco, USA, Jan 1992 to Jan 1993 | Heterosexual men and women (46% African American, 15% Hispanic) with current (39%) or previous STI (61%) | 399 (49%) | 42% <25 | 5 months | 4×60 minutes weekly individual sessions | 3 | 38% | 48% | 66% intervention |
| 35% >29 | 49% control | ||||||||
| Branson, 199825 Houston, USA, March 1992 to June 1993 | Heterosexual men and women (90% black) with history of STI (48% current STI) | 964 (43%) | 19% <20 | 12 months | 4 small group sessions in 2 weeks plus 1 at 2 months | 3 | 59% | 47% | 73% any, and 22% complete follow up |
| 23% >34 | |||||||||
| Imrie, 200118 London, UK, Sept 1995 to Nov 1997 | Homosexual men (91% white) with acute STI and/or history of unprotected intercourse and/or concerns about sexual practices | 343 (0%) | Median 29 (range 18–58) | 12 months | One 7 hour group workshop | 3 | 72% | 71% | 66% intervention |
| 76% control | |||||||||
| Kalichman, 199919 Atlanta, USA (trial dates not stated) | African American heterosexual men | 117 (0%) | Mean 33 (range 18–50) | 6 months | 2×180 minutes small group sessions | 2 | Approx. 70% | 85% | 69% (reportedly similar between groups) |
| Kamb, 199815 Five US clinics, July 1993 to Sept 1996 | Heterosexual men and women (32% current STI) | 5758 (43%) | Not reported (all >14) | 12 months | 1×20 minutes and 3×60 minutes (enhanced) or 2×20 minute (brief) individual sessions | 2 | 43% | 72% | 66% (reportedly similar between groups) |
| Maher, 200320 Miami, USA, Sept 1994 to Dec 1995 | Black men with confirmed/probable STI | 581 (0%) | Mean 24 (range 16–29) | 12 months | 1×60 min and 2×40–50 minutes sessions in 30 days | 2 | 92% | 46% attended ⩾2 sessions | Not applicable |
| Metzler, 200026 Oregon, USA (trial dates not stated) | Male and female adolescents (68% white) reporting recent high-risk sexual activity | 339 (68%) | Mean 18 (males) 17 (females) | 6 months | 5×60–90 minute individual sessions | 1 | 37% | 68% attended ⩾4 sessions | 53% intervention |
| (32% <17) | 39% control | ||||||||
| National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 199816 37 US clinics, Jan 1994 to Sept 1996 | Men and women (74% African American, 25% Hispanic) reporting recent high risk sexual activity | 2426† (42%) | 25% <25 | 12 months | 7 group sessions, initially twice weekly (1×60 minutes and 6×90–120 minutes) | 3 | 33% | 63% attended ⩾6 sessions | 76% intervention |
| 74% control | |||||||||
| O’Leary, 199828 Seven US clinics (trial dates not stated) | Men and women (91% Black) | 659 (41%) | Mean 30 | 3 months | 7 group sessions totalling 10 hours | 1 | 24% | Not stated | 70% intervention |
| 83% control | |||||||||
| Orr, 199621 Indiana, USA (trial dates not stated) | Female adolescents (55% black) with Chlamydia trachomatis infection | 209 (100%) | Mean 18 (range 14–19) | 6 months | 1×10–20 minutes Individual session | 0 | Not stated | Not applicable | 54% (reportedly similar between groups) |
| Shain, 199922 San Antonio, USA, Jan 1993 to July 1994 | Heterosexual women with non-viral STI (68% Hispanic, 31% African American) | 617 (100%) | Mean 22 (36% <19) | 12 months | 3×3–4 hour group sessions over 3 weeks | 2 | 65% | 82% attended ⩾2 sessions | 91% intervention |
| 87% control | |||||||||
| Shrier, 200123 Boston, USA, July 1996 to July 1998 | Young women (49% black, 18% Hispanic) with cervicitis or pelvic inflammatory disease | 123 (100%) | Median 17.5 (range 13–22) | 12 months | 1×30 minutes individual session | 2 | 51% | 95% | 50% intervention |
| 46% control | |||||||||
| Solomon, 198927 Boston, USA, 1986 (trial dates not stated) | Men and women (85% black) returning for “test of cure” | 182 (20%) | Median 24 (range 18–73) | Not stated | One group session | 1 | 73% | Not applicable | Not applicable |