Measuring the condom use self-efficacy of deployed, enlisted male U.S. Naval personnel.

This article summarizes the development and psychometric analysis of a condom use self-efficacy measure for deployed, enlisted male U.S. Naval personnel. Sample ethnic subgroups included European American, Latino/Hispanic, African American, Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander, and Biracial/Multiracial. Excellent reliability statistics were obtained for the full sample (alpha = .93, N = 2,722) and various ethnic subgroups (alpha = .93 to .95, n = 44 to 1,383). Correlations between self-efficacy scores and measures of condom use were similar in magnitude to effect sizes reported in research involving civilian populations (r = .18 to .34). Significant differences in self-efficacy scores for groups of condom users (e.g., consistent and nonconsistent users) for the full sample of men and ethnic subgroups provided further support for construct validity (p < .05). Study findings support the reliability and validity of the condom self-efficacy measure in this population and indicate its usefulness and the need for investigating its psychometric properties in other populations.

Condom use by male, enlisted, deployed navy personnel with multiple partners.

STUDY QUESTION: Condom use by male enlisted personnel deployed on an aircraft carrier in spring 2002 who reported having casual sex partners in foreign ports and (1) only a steady partner, (2) only casual sex partners, or (3) both steady and casual sex partners in the home port. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey, with analysis of the subsample reporting multiple partners (n = 378). RESULTS: Sexual behavior was less frequent and condom use was higher in foreign ports (p < 0.0001). Men involved with both steady and casual partners used condoms less consistently than did those involved with only casual partners (p < 0.05). Sexual behavior also varied with the type of partner (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Navy strategies promoting condom use in foreign ports appear effective. New strategies are needed for home ports and for men involved with both steady and casual partners.

Evaluation of a generic brief acculturation scale in a sample of male enlisted naval personnel.

This study examined the reliability and validity of the 3-item Generic Brief Acculturation Scale (GBAS). The GBAS was administered as a part of a larger Navy Health Behavior Survey of male enlisted personnel deployed on aircraft carriers. Analyses are reported here for the subsample for whom English was a second language (n = 529, 15% of original sample). Generic Brief Acculturation Scale reliability was assessed with internal consistency. Validity was assessed using t test and correlation. Results supported reliability and validity: Cronbach alpha was .81, mean GBAS scores for US-born participants were significantly higher than that for foreign born (P < .05), and GBAS scores were positively correlated with generation (r = 0.34). Additional research with civilian populations is needed, but these findings suggest that the GBAS could be useful either as a quick screen in clinical practice to determine when a translator may be needed or to guide decision making regarding health promotion programming.