Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117121

Titilayo A. Oladosu-Okoror, student, Doctoral Candidate, Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, 304 Health and Human Development, University Park, PA 16802, 814-865-2007, tao122@psu.edu, Collins O. Airhihenbuwa, MPH, PhD, Professor of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, 304 Health and Human Development, University Park, PA 16802, and Susan Kennedy, PhD, Office of Health Promotion & Education, Penn State University, 237 Ritenour Building, University Park, State College, PA 16802.

This objective of this study is to examine the effects of a motivational counseling intervention on HIV risk reduction. Participants will include students testing negative for HIV at a University HIV Counseling, Testing and Referral (CTR) center. Participants will be informed about the study during their HIV pre-test counseling, and those who agree to participate will sign a consent form. Participants will be asked to complete a risk assessment form, followed by an explanation of the purpose of the study. Participants in the usual care group (comparison) will receive the standard 20 minutes of pre-test counseling. Participants in the intervention group will receive an additional 20 minutes of motivational counseling, at which time, information on (a) HIV risk behaviors, (b) perceived risk for HIV, and (c) factors that influenced their decision to be tested will be collected. Participants will be audio-taped following their consent. Questions in the study will be based on the UNAIDS HIV/AIDS Communications Framework domains and the PEN-3 model. Participants will receive post-test counseling (2 weeks after pre-test), and additional telephone counseling at 4 and 6 weeks. It is hypothesized that participants in the intervention group will be more likely to maintain or reduce their risk behavior(s) than those in the usual care group. The study protocol will be submitted for approval by the Institutional Review Board at Pennsylvania State University. The study will be completed in August 2005, and results will be presented at the conference.

Learning Objectives:

• Assist in the development of effective HIV counseling that leads to risk reduction

Keywords: HIV Interventions, Counseling

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.