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ARTICLE:
Rebecca L. Collins, Marc N. Elliott, Sandra H. Berry, David E. Kanouse, and Sarah B. Hunter
Entertainment Television as a Healthy Sex Educator: The Impact of Condom-Efficacy Information in an Episode of Friends
Pediatrics 2003; 112: 1115-1121 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetters] Program May Discourage Condom Use Among Teens
Casey M. McCormick   (14 November 2003)

Program May Discourage Condom Use Among Teens 14 November 2003
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Casey M. McCormick,
Health Education Specialist/Teen Pregnancy
Community Challenge Grant Programs

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Re: Program May Discourage Condom Use Among Teens

cmccormick{at}placercoe.k12.ca.us Casey M. McCormick

I am glad to see a popular program like Friends bring up the topic of condom use. So many shows leave contraception and STI prevention out of the story line. However, I am concerned that teens might think that because a condom broke on the show that condoms are inherently weak and ineffective. In reality, teen's increased condom use in recent years has been credited with helping to significantly reduce our teen birth rate in the United States.