Educational Video Tool to Increase Syphilis Knowledge Among Black and Hispanic Male Patients

Study objective. To determine the effectiveness of an educational video entitled Syphilis and Men to increase syphilis knowledge among at-risk Black and Hispanic male patients. Methods. In this randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups and completed a pre-test survey, viewed the video (intervention group) and/or completed a post-test knowledge survey. Our analysis assessed whether the intervention group in comparison to the control group had an increase in syphilis knowledge, regardless of self-reported socio-demographic and sexual behavior characteristics associated with increased risk for syphilis infection. Results. Two hundred and six (206) males were studied. The intervention group participants scored on average 24.8 percentage points higher than the control group participants (p<.001) on the post-test survey after viewing the video. This difference was present regardless of certain self-reported socio-demographic and sexual behavior characteristics associated with increased risk for syphilis infection. Conclusion. The Syphilis and Men video is a five-minute, low-cost tool that increased syphilis knowledge among Black and Hispanic male patients and could have similar effects in other settings.