Text-message Program to Reduce Risky Sexual Behavior in Young Adult Female Emergency Department (ED) Patients

Mobile Phone Text-message Program to Reduce Risky Sexual Behavior in Young Females Discharged From the Emergency Department

The US preventative services task force (USPSTF) recommends behavioral counseling in the primary care setting for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, however, screening and counseling rarely occur. Text messaging (TM) is increasingly being used as a tool to affect behavior change in patients, but its effect on patients that report at-risk sexual behavior in the emergency department (ED) is unknown. The investigators seek to assess the feasibility of ED-based screening of young adult females for at-risk sexual behavior and enrolling them in a 3 month trial using TM to deliver information and skill building to improve health behavior.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female
• Age 18-25 years
• AUDIT-C score > 2
• (Drugs or alcohol prior to last sex OR No condom with last sex OR > 1 partner in last 3 months)

Exclusion Criteria:

• No personal cell phone with SMS features
• Prisoner
• Pregnant or planning in next 3 months
• Current or past drug/alcohol treatment or psychiatric treatment