Messages HIV clinicians use in prevention with positives interventions

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Clinical Medicine
• HIV Prevention

Background:

• Prevention with Positives (PwP) is a key US strategy targeting HIV-infected individuals aware of their status.
• This study examines prevention message delivery by clinical providers during the PwP intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utilization of prevention messages by clinical providers within the PwP program.
• To understand provider perspectives on delivering HIV prevention counseling.

Main Methods:

• Employed quantitative methods to identify frequently discussed prevention topics.
• Utilized qualitative interviews to explore clinician viewpoints on prevention counseling.
• Analyzed data from baseline and 12-month follow-up assessments.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in patients receiving all PwP counseling messages was observed (p<0.01).
• Discussion of safer sex increased when sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening was performed (83.5% to 91%).
• Reporting of explaining superinfection risk rose significantly from 75% to 90% (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Providers often prioritize individual patient care, using superinfection discussions as a clinical, non-judgmental approach.
• Evidence-based strategies like STI screening, reduced partners, and medication adherence may be more effective for behavior change.
• Developing acceptable approaches for discussing risk and prevention is crucial for integrating HIV prevention into clinical practice.