Estimates show higher HIV transmission rates among people who are seriously mentally ill (SMI) than the general population; and studies of HIV prevention among SMI have focused on researcher-led rather than provider-led interventions. Little is known about roles service providers can play in encouraging SMI clients to acquire knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors necessary to prevent HIV transmission. Our study builds understanding of ways that case managers of SMI clients may systematically offer HIV prevention services, as well as ways that administrators, funders, and other professionals affecting case managers may support such services. In this presentation, we lay out the aim of our study, which is to develop an understanding of the factors that influence the above professionals in adopting and supporting HIV prevention services for SMI clients. We explain why "intent" is a good predictor of actual adoption of HIV prevention services since it would be too premature to study adoption of services at this time. Then we present data from the first stage of data collection among mental health professionals in a 27-county region in Pennsylvania. These data begin to indicate factors that would need to be addressed to disseminate and institutionalize a strategy for HIV prevention in case management.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will: 1. Understand the severity of the problem of HIV transmission among people with serious mental illnesses (SMI). 2. Understand the limitations of research to date on HIV prevention interventions directed towards people with SMI. 3. Articulate a strategy for learning about organizational and professional factors that affect the provision of HIV prevention in mental health case management of SMI individuals. 4. Understand preliminary data from case managers of SMI individuals and ways that these data will lead to further study and a future dissemination strategy, encouraging the provision of HIV prevention in case management
Keywords: HIV Interventions, Case Management
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.