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Changes in Readiness for HIV Testing: Results of a Randomized Trial in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Centers
Objective: We examined changes in readiness for HIV testing in a randomized trial of HIV testing strategies.
Methods: A total of 1281 participants from 12 US community-based substance use disorder treatment programs were included in this planned secondary analysis of data from CTN-0032, a trial conducted within the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network. There were three study arms: (1) referral for off-site HIV testing, (2) HIV risk-reduction counseling with on-site rapid HIV testing, and (3) verbal information about testing with on-site rapid HIV testing.
Results: Participants in both on site testing arms reported significantly higher readiness for HIV testing (30.3% vs 56.3% vs 54.8%), higher HIV test completion (47.6% vs 88.9% vs 89.6%) and a higher proportion of receiving HIV test results (90.1% vs 99.2% vs 99.4%) post-intervention than the off-site referral arm. A significant change in readiness to test across study arms was also reported for those who completed the HIV test (χ2=18.88, p=0.0008) and who received their results (χ2=20.09, p=0.0005). There was no difference in these outcomes between the information only or counseling arms, both of which provided on-site rapid HIV testing.
Conclusions: On-site rapid HIV testing increases participant’s readiness for future testing. Increased availability of on-site rapid HIV testing may increase the likelihood of repeated HIV testing in substance users.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programsEpidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe and evaluate changes in readiness for HIV testing in a randomized trial of HIV testing strategies for a total of 1281 participants from 12 US community-based substance use disorder treatment programs
Keyword(s): HIV Interventions, Drug Abuse Treatment
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I performed and initiated the analysis and have been part of data analysis team on the larger protocol and quality assurance. Further, I have a background in working with sexual risk behavior among substances use clients.
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.