Table 1.

Key studies of sexually transmitted infections interventions among young people in Europe, 1995-2005

Authors	Setting and study sample	Study design	Comparison group	Program implementers
1. Amirkhanian et al, 2003 (12)	Sofia, Bulgaria St Petersburg, Russia Intact social networks of young men having sex with men (MSM): a. 6 in Sofia (n = 34) b. 8 in St Petersburg (n = 48) Mean age 24.4; 42% in school	Pre- and post-intervention risk assessment, ethnographic observations, sociometric measures, statistical analysis Community-based outreach	No	Peers (trained social leaders of young MSM networks)
2. Bagnall and Lockerbie, 1996 (13)	Lothian region, Scotland 16- and 17-y-old boys and girls in 8 schools Study: n = 747 Follow-up: n = 528	Pre- and post-intervention evaluation School based	No	Specially trained sessional workers (young adults from outside)
3. Baraitser et al, 2002 (14)	South London, UK Adventure playground for boys and girls n = not defined (about 70 discussions) Chiefly aged 13-16	Qualitative approach Community-based outreach	No	Health professional (sexual health outreach nurse)
4. Borgia et al, 2005 (15)	Rome, Italy 18 high schools, students attending last two years n = 1295 male and female Age 16-23, median 18	Randomized controlled trial (RCT) Social learning theory School based	Schools were randomly assigned to a peer- or teacher-led program	54 peers (trained by psychologists) 27 teachers (trained by health care workers)
5. Borgia et al, 1997 (16)	Lazio region, Italy 46 junior and senior high schools 3866 students (male and female) Intervention n = 2165 Control n = 1701 Median age: 15	RCT School based	Schools were randomly divided into treatment and control groups	Teachers (trained by health workers)
6. Diez et al, 2000 (17)	Barcelona, Spain 17 secondary schools (academic or vocational) n = 1215 (male and female) Aged 15-17	Quasi-experimental study, pre- and post-intervention questionnaires Health belief model; social cognitive theory; theory of planned behavior School based	Intervention group: n = 220 students Information group: n = 593 Control group: n = 402	Teachers (one training session)
7. Donati et al, 2000 (18)	Rome, Italy 5 public secondary schools n = 376 (male and female) Age 14–21	5 workshops 3 questionnaires School based	No	Health specialists (1 gynecologist, 1 psychologist)
8. James et al, 1998 (19)	Nottingham, UK Genitourinary medicine clinic patients n = 492 (male and female) Age 16+	RCT Social learning theory Clinic based	Intervention (individual counseling and skills training): n = 148 Control (written materials only): n = 162 Control (usual clinic procedure): n = 182	Health advisors (trained)
9. Kaldmäe et al, 2000 (20)	Estonia a. 163 pupils, 53 teachers b. 838 (male and female) pupils, 126 teachers or university students (student teachers) c. 600 men in Estonian Defense Forces, average age 19	Background study Interactive learning methods 2 school based projects 1 community-based outreach project	No	Teachers and peer educators
10. Kocken et al, 2001 (21)	Four largest cities in the Netherlands Turkish and Moroccan migrant men in eg, coffee houses, mosques and bars n = 589, groups averaged 23 men Majority <30 years old	RCT Community-based outreach	Intervention group: n = 293 Control group: n = 296	Peer educators (men from same ethnic group as participants)
11. Low et al, 2003 (22)	Inner London, UK Further education colleges n = 181 (male and female) 39% “black Africans” 43% “black Caribbeans” or “black other” Age 16	Pilot study evaluation Statistical analysis School and community-based	No	Sexual health advisor (qualified nurse), with assistance from project manager
12. Magnusson et al, 2004 (23)	Hertfordshire, UK Four mixed-sex schools n = 589, follow-up n = 512 83% “white” Age 13-14	Pilot non-randomized intervention study Pre- and post-intervention questionnaire, evaluation questionnaire School based	Intervention groups (given information at): a. family planning clinic, b. general practice, c. school drop-in clinic Control: usual school-based sex education	Health professionals (either family planner, general practitioner or a school nurse)
13. Martijn et al, 2004 (24)	Rotterdam, the Netherlands Refugee center a. 75 new male and female migrants (Turkish, Moroccan, other Arabic); two thirds age 18-25 b. 36 Iraqi refugee men; two thirds age 20-30	Comparative study Theory of planned behavior Community-based outreach	a. no b. refugees were assigned to groups led by either a lay health advisor (LHA) or professional health advisor (PHA)	a. 4 trained LHAs b. 2 trained LHAs, 2 PHAs (public health nurses)
14. Oakeshott et al, 2000 (25)	South London, UK 28 general practices n = 1382 women Age 16-34	RCT (cluster randomized trial) Clinic based	Intervention group: 14 general practices Control group: 14 practices	Health professionals (nurses and general practitioners)
15. Rebull et al, 2003 (26)	Southern Tarragona, Spain 12 secondary schools (male and female) n = 896 in pre-test, n = 805 in post-test Age 14-17	Pre- and post-intervention study School based	No	Teachers
16. Stephenson et al, 1998 (27)	Greater London, UK 4 schools n = 469 (male and female) Age 13-14	RCT School based	2 intervention schools (peer-led sex education) 2 control schools (usual teacher-led sex education)	Peers (trained by experts)
17. Stephenson et al, 2004 (28)	Central and Southern England, UK 29 schools n = 8000 (male and female) Age 13-14 (at baseline)	RCT School based	15 intervention schools (peer-led sex education) 14 control schools (usual teacher-led sex education)	Peers (trained by external team)
18. Tydén et al, 1998 (29)	Uppsala, Sweden 2 Swedish universities n = 1600 (male and female) Age 25 and younger	Quasi-experimental study, mass media campaign, peer education School based	Intervention group: n = 600 Control group (no campaign): n = 400 Control group (post-intervention questionnaire only): n = 600	19 trained peer educators (first-year medicine and nursing students)
19. Wight et al, 2002 (30)	Scotland, UK 25 secondary schools n = 8430 (male and female) Age 13-15	RCT (cluster randomized trial) School based	13 intervention schools: Sexual Health and Relationships Program 12 control schools: existing sex education	Teachers