REPORTING RECENT SEXUAL PRACTICES - GAY MENS DISCLOSURE OF HIV RISK BY QUESTIONNAIRE AND INTERVIEW

AIDS-related research relies primarily on self-reports of sexual pract ices. Therefore, determining which data collection methods yield more candid information is critical. Data from a study of gay men's sexual adaptations to the AIDS epidemic provided an opportunity to explore th e congruence of data collected using a self-administered questionnaire with data from an unstructured face-to-face interview designed to fac ilitate report of sexual risk behavior. We examined (i) the concordanc e of questionnaire and unstructured interview risk ratings when the tw o data sources are scored for the same 16 sexual behaviors; (ii) the c oncordance of questionnaire ratings and ratings obtained when all info rmation on recent sexual practices available from the unstructured int erview is considered; (iii) the relationship between serostatus and bo th concordance patterns between methods; and (iv) the difference by se rostatus of reported risk level within method. Riskiest behaviors were reported on the questionnaire for all serostatus groups. Riskier beha viors were more likely to be reported on the questionnaire while more characteristic, safer behaviors were discussed in interview, regardles s of HIV serostatus. The advantages of a combined methods-questionnair e/interview-strategy for sexual practice research are discussed.