COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL GROUP-COUNSELING TO PREVENT HIV TRANSMISSION IN GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN - FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO SUCCESSFUL RISK REDUCTION

This study assessed the effectiveness of a 17-session HIV-prevention g roup intervention with gay and bisexual males. Participants were aged 18 years or older had engaged in one or more instances of unprotected sex with other males during the preceding 12 months, and had responded to local publicity for a program to assist gay and bisexual men who w ere having difficulty being sexually safe. Following assessment, 159 i ndividuals were matched and assigned to receive group counseling or re main in a wait-list condition. Treatment focused on skills training in coping with high-risk situations The intervention appeared to be more effective with exclusively gay than with bisexual men. More positive outcomes were associated with safer behavioral patterns at baseline hi gher self-efficacy for safer behavior accurate personal assessment of HIV infection risk, the absence of alcohol/drug use in association wit h sex, and satisfaction with social support.