HIV / AIDS

Brief Safer Sex Intervention for HIV Outpatient Clinics
Principal Investigator: Dr. Jean Richardson

Seventy percent of HIV-infected patients are sexually active and many engage in unprotected sex while being managed on antiretroviral therapy. Providers of HIV medical care are in the best position to speak on a regular basis with their patients about safer sex and disclosure. The HIV outpatient clinic is an ideal yet under-utilized setting to integrate a prevention program for HIV positive persons into routine medical care.

The study provides the first theoretical test of the impact of gain- versus loss-framed messages on sexual behavior and disclosure on the part of HIV positive individuals who are being seen at six HIV outpatient clinics in the State of California. This is the first study to evaluate the effectiveness of provider-delivered safer sex counseling as a means to reduce transmission of HIV.

The safe sex intervention conditions are compared with an attention control intervention that addresses adherence to medication. Data were collected on 885 HIV-positive sexually active persons in care of whom 34.4.% engaged in unprotected anal or vaginal sex (UAV). Follow-up data were collected from about two-thirds of the sample.

The main focus of the intervention was to address issues of safer sex, but because the attention control group addressed medication adherence, this allows us to explore hypotheses with regard to adherence. Detailed data were collected by patient interview, medical record abstracts and provider questionnaires. All field procedures are complete, and we are conducting analyses to assess interventions effects. Analysis to-date indicates the UAV decreases in the safer sex clinics and adherence increases in the adherence clinics.
This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Technology Translation and Transfer of Effective HIV Prevention Behavioral Interventions
Principal Investigator: Dr. Jean Richardson

The purpose of this CDC grant is to diffuse the intervention that was tested in the NIMH-funded study "A Brief Safer Sex Intervention for HIV Outpatient Clinics". The study developed training manuals, patient intervention materials (brochures and flyers) and clinic posters to implement and maintain the program.

Now that the efficacy of the program has been documented, the next step is to demonstrate that the program can be incorporated into routine care. To that end we will (1) improve and expand on patient education materials, (2) develop materials targeted for high-risk HIV positive individuals, (3) train HIV providers, (4) maintain the program and (5) improve the program diffusion process. The program will be diffused to three to five clinics in the Los Angeles area and a process evaluation will be conducted.

« Back to Research