A RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF AN EDUCATION AND SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR HIV-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of an intervention for providi ng information and support to HIV-positive donors on changes in their sexual behavior, and to assess which donor characteristics are predict ive of behavior change. Design: Subjects were randomly assigned to a s tructured intervention or community referral group. Follow-up assessme nts were conducted every 6 months. Setting: New York City, New York, U SA. Participants: A cohort of 271 HIV-infected persons who donated blo od to the New York Blood Center. Intervention: Donors randomized to th e structured intervention program met individually with a nurse for co unseling and were offered a six-session support group. The program was designed to provide information, encourage safer sexual behavior and provide support. Main outcome measures: Sexual behavior, psychological distress and psychological help seeking, and immune function. Results : In both groups there was a large decrease over time in reports of un safe sexual activity. However, more than 30% of participants in both g roups reported unsafe sexual activity at the 1-year follow-up visit. D onors randomized to the structured intervention program did not report significantly more behavior change at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusio ns: Better programs to promote behavior change in seropositive individ uals are needed.