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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Dale R. Gluth, MA, Magnet, 4122 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114, 415-581-1600, dale@magnetsf.org, Shelley N. Facente, MPH, AIDS Office, HIV Prevention Section, San Francisco Department of Public Health, 25 Van Ness Ave., Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94102, and Nicolas M. Sheon, PhD, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 13000, San Francisco, CA 94105.

Issues: HIV test counselors working with high-risk, repeat-testing MSM require continuing education and supervision to enhance counseling skills. Because funding for HIV counseling and testing through the California State Office of AIDS hinges on the completion of a client-level data form for each test, site coordinators spend much of their time overseeing paperwork rather than providing support and training to counselors. Description: A collaboration between UCSF researchers, Magnet, a gay men's community health center, and the San Francisco health department led to the development of a client self-administered survey to electronically collect the required data at Magnet's storefront testing site prior to the test session. Counselors expressed concerns about not having the form as a tool to structure the session and build rapport. An inservice was held to explain the new system, answer questions and address counselor concerns prior to implementation. Lessons Learned: Despite initial concerns, counselors have embraced the new system, stating that it results in more satisfactory and effective counseling sessions. Excitement about the improved sessions has led to a counselor-driven call for more advanced training and collaborative support. Counselors developed an online group to share effective strategies to engage clients in a discussion of their risk behavior. Finally, by eliminating time-intensive paperwork, more time is available for the site coordinator to provide training and supervision. Recommendations: Streamlined methods for collecting client-level data should be utilized, because they can help direct scarce time and resources into improved counselor training and supervision, thus improving the quality of client services.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify three elements of a successful risk reduction HIV test counseling session.
• Articulate the ways that the data collection forms can hinder effective client-centered counseling.
• Recognize the potential for enhanced skills development for HIV test counselors with the removal of risk assessment forms from test sessions.

Keywords: Training, Counseling

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered