Effectiveness of audiovisual interventions in increasing knowledge about sexually transmitted infections: a systematic review

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the evidence on the effectiveness of audiovisual interventions in increasing knowledge about sexually transmitted infections in different age groups. Method: systematic review, conducted on February 21, 2023, in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane, Embase, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Nursing Database, Spanish Bibliographic Index in Health Sciences, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Experimental studies that used audiovisual resources to improve knowledge were included, compared with other interventions or none. The synthesis of results was narrative, with assessment of risk of bias and certainty of evidence. Results: the sample consisted of 25 studies (10 randomized clinical trials and 15 quasi-experimental studies). Educational videos were the most widely used resource. Compared to other interventions or no intervention, the intervention group achieved significant improvements in knowledge in the medium and long term, as well as changes in perception and predisposition to reduce risky behavior. The certainty of the evidence was low for randomized studies and very low for quasi-experimental studies. Conclusion: audiovisual interventions have shown effectiveness in different populations and age groups, highlighting the need to consider specific parameters in creating these resources.