185239 Challenges in Structural Interventions to Lower Alcohol-related STI/HIV-risk (SILAS)

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

B. R. Simon Rosser, PhD, MPH , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Richard Weinmeyer, MPhil , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Gabriel Anderson, BA , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Lindsey Niswanger, BA , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Keith Horvath, PhD , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Sonya S. Brady, PhD , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Rhonda Jones-Webb, DrPH , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Joseph Konstan, PhD , Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Issues: In the United States, HIV prevention directed towards men who have sex with men (MSM) appears to be failing, while a syndemic of alcohol/drug use and unsafe sex is increasing. Given these issues, both the CDC and NIH have called for increased research that can be used to reduce HIV transmission associated with drug and alcohol use among MSM.

Description: The SILAS Study, funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, is a 16-city investigation of structural factors impacting MSM's alcohol-related STI/HIV risk (ARSR). The study is investigating how policy and online sex-seeking may be impacting patronage at gay alcohol serving venues (GASVs) by gathering data via telephone surveys with managers/owners of GASVs. The SILAS team developed a protocol for locating GASVs using the most recent Damron and Spartacus guides, and cross referencing this list with available online resources.

Lessons Learned: The pilot study revealed several challenges in collecting data from GASVs:

1) Using our compilation to identify GASVs, it was discovered that several locations were misclassified and other establishments that primarily served gay persons did not identify as GASVs.

2) Male research staff members were more successful than females in soliciting agreement of GASV managers to participate in the telephone survey.

3) Flexibility in timing and frequency of calling was critical.

Next Steps: The SILAS team will begin our 16-city data collection, applying lessons learned from the pilot study to increase accuracy in locating GASVs, and raising response rates from establishments contacted for the study.

Learning Objectives:
1) Recognize that gay alcohol serving venues (GASVs) comprise a unique sector to survey 2) Identify major obstacles to telephone surveying GASVs 3) Develop more efficacious protocols for surveying GASVs

Keywords: Alcohol Use, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Principal Investigator on the study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Alcohol Issues in Special Populations: Exploring the Risk
See more of: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs