Do Assessments of HIV Risk Behaviors Change Behaviors and Prevention Intervention Efficacy? An Experimental Examination of the Influence of Type of Assessment and Risk Perceptions

• Published in: Annals of behavioral medicine Vol. 49; no. 3; pp. 358 - 370
• Main Authors: Glasman, Laura R., Skinner, Donald, Bogart, Laura M., Kalichman, Seth C., McAuliffe, Timothy, Sitzler, Cheryl A., Toefy, Yoesrie, Weinhardt, Lance S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2015; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adult; Counseling - methods; Disease prevention; Evidence-Based Practice; Family Medicine; Female; General Practice; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Psychology; HIV; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Interview, Psychological - methods; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Perceptions; Risk; Risk-Taking; Sexual behavior; Sexual Behavior - psychology; South Africa; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; South Africa; Motivation; HIV prevention interventions; Assessment reactivity; Randomized controlled trials
• ISSN: 0883-6612; 1532-4796
• DOI: 10.1007/s12160-014-9659-y

Background Behavioral assessments may change behaviors and responses to behavioral interventions, depending on assessment type and respondents’ motivations. Purpose We observed effects on sexual behavior and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention intervention efficacy of interviews assessing recent HIV risk behavior frequency or HIV risk behavior events among respondents with different perceptions of their risk for HIV. Methods Young South African sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic clients ( N  = 1,728) participated in a 3 (event-based vs. frequency-based vs. no interview) by 2 (evidence-based vs. standard of care risk-reduction session) RCT. Results The interviews increased reported safer sexual behavior among youth with higher but not lower risk perceptions. The intervention session was less effective when combined with interviews, particularly among lower risk perception youth. Patterns replicated for both interviews. Conclusions HIV risk behavior assessments may increase resistance to interventions among unmotivated youth and enhance safer sexual behavior among motivated youth. Behavioral assessments may reduce HIV risk among motivated individuals.