Brief Cognitive Counseling With HIV Testing To Reduce Sexual Risk Among Men Who Have Sex With Men

OBJECTIVES

To test the efficacy and acceptability of a single-session personalized cognitive counseling (PCC) intervention delivered by paraprofessionals during HIV voluntary counseling and testing.

METHODS

HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM; n = 336) were randomly allocated to PCC or usual counseling (UC) between October 2002 and September 2004. The primary outcome was the number of episodes of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with any nonprimary partner of nonconcordant HIV serostatus in the preceding 90 days, measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Impact was assessed as "intent to treat" by random-intercept Poisson regression analysis. Acceptability was assessed by a standardized client satisfaction survey.

RESULTS

Men receiving PCC and UC reported comparable levels of HIV nonconcordant UAI at baseline (mean episodes: 4.2 vs. 4.8, respectively; P = 0.151). UAI decreased by more than 60% to 1.9 episodes at 6 months in the PCC arm (P < 0.001 vs. baseline) but was unchanged at 4.3 episodes for the UC arm (P = 0.069 vs. baseline). At 6 months, men receiving PCC reported significantly less risk than those receiving UC (P = 0.029 for difference to PCC). Risk reduction in the PCC arm was sustained from 6 to 12 months at 1.9 (P = 0.181), whereas risk significantly decreased in the UC arm to 2.2 during this interval (P < 0.001 vs. 6 months; P = 0.756 vs. PCC at 12 months). Significantly more PCC participants were "very satisfied" with the counseling experience (78.2%) versus UC participants (59.2%) (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Both interventions were effective in reducing high-risk sexual behavior among MSM repeat testers. PCC participants demonstrated significant behavioral change more swiftly and reported a more satisfying counseling experience than UC participants.

Late Diagnosis of HIV Infection

BACKGROUND

Persons diagnosed late in the course of HIV infection may be unknowingly transmitting infection and once diagnosed may have worse outcomes and greater medical expenses.

METHODS

Persons diagnosed with AIDS in San Francisco between 2001 and 2005 were included. Late testers were persons diagnosed with HIV 12 months or less before their AIDS diagnosis. Prevalence trends, demographic and risk correlates, and predictors of late testing were measured.

RESULTS

Among 2139 persons included, 830 (38.8%) were late testers. The prevalence of late testing was stable between 2001 and 2005. Late testing was more likely among persons <30 years old (Odds ratio [OR]: 1.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4, 2.8), heterosexuals (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.1), persons without a reported risk (OR: 2.88, 95% CI: 1.7, 5.0), persons with private insurance (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.4, 2.4), no insurance (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.4, 2.4), born outside of the United States (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.2, 2.2), and whose initial AIDS diagnosis was an opportunistic infection (OR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.8, 2.8).

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of persons with AIDS have tested late in the course of HIV infection and this proportion has not declined in recent years. Routine testing in medical settings, and use of rapid oral-fluid testing in traditional and nontraditional settings may increase early HIV diagnosis.

Priapism and quetiapine: a case report

Priapism is a "persistent erection not accompanied by sexual desire or stimulation, usually lasting more than six hours and typically involving only the corpora cavernosa." Here we report on a gay male patient from our HIV/AIDS mental health clinic who developed serious priapism on quetiapine and recreational amphetamine. Gay men are at high risk for amphetamine use, and as such, this potential association between priapism, quetiapine, and amphetamine use should be considered in making prescription decisions with these patients.

Availability of combination therapy for HIV: effects on sexual risk taking in a sample of high-risk gay and bisexual men

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of successes in the medical treatment of HIV disease on the perceptions of high-risk gay and bisexual men attending an anonymous testing site towards becoming infected with HIV and on their decisions to have unsafe sex. A cross-sectional survey with a face-to-face interview and self-recorded information was used. A convenience sample of high-risk men seeking anonymous HIV antibody counselling was recruited for an intervention study. To be eligible, men had to have a history of at least one previous negative antibody test and unprotected anal intercourse within the last year. Upon enrollment, subjects were asked about the impact of new treatment developments on their decisions to engage in high-risk sex both in the recent past and in the future. In general, neither the recent successes in treating HIV nor the availability of combination therapy had any impact on the men's decisions about safe sex, although a minority of men reported less concern about becoming HIV-positive. Also, some men reported already having taken more risk. In conclusion, a small number of men in this high-risk population have increased risk behaviour as a result of recent treatment advances. These results merit continued monitoring.

Changing sexual behavior among gay male repeat testers for HIV: a randomized, controlled trial of a single-session intervention

CONTEXT

High-risk sexual behavior is increasingly prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM) and among men with a history of repeat testing for HIV.

OBJECTIVES

The study assessed whether one counseling intervention session focusing on self-justifications (thoughts, attitudes, or beliefs that allow the participant to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors) at most recent unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) is effective in reducing future high-risk behaviors among HIV-negative men.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A randomized, controlled, counseling intervention trial was conducted at an anonymous testing site in San Francisco, California, between May 1997 and January 2000. Participants were 248 MSM with a history of at least one previous negative HIV test result and self-reported UAI (receptive or insertive) in the previous 12 months with partners of unknown or discordant HIV status. Two intervention groups received standard HIV test counseling plus a cognitive-behavioral intervention, and two control groups received only standard HIV test counseling. Follow-up evaluation was at 6 and 12 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Number of episodes of UAI with nonprimary partners (of unknown or discordant HIV status) in the 90 days preceding the interview was measured via self-report during face-to-face interview.

RESULTS

A novel counseling intervention focusing on self-justifications significantly decreased the proportion of participants reporting UAI with nonprimary partners of unknown or discordant HIV status at 6 and 12 months (from 66% to 21% at 6 months and to 26% at 12 months, p =.002; p <.001) as compared with a control group when added to standard client-centered HIV counseling and testing.

CONCLUSIONS

A specific, single-session counseling intervention focusing on a reevaluation of a person's self-justifications operant during a recent occasion of high-risk behavior may prove useful in decreasing individual risk behavior and thus limiting community-level HIV transmission.

Impact of highly active antiretroviral treatment on HIV seroincidence among men who have sex with men: San Francisco

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the countervailing effects on HIV incidence of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) among San Francisco men who have sex with men (MSM).

METHODS

Behavioral risk was determined on the basis of responses to cross-sectional community interviews. HIV incidence was assessed through application of an enzyme-linked immunoassay testing strategy.

RESULTS

Use of HAART among MSM living with AIDS increased from 4% in 1995 to 54% in 1999. The percentage of MSM who reported both unprotected anal intercourse and multiple sexual partners increased from 24% in 1994 to 45% in 1999. The annual HIV incidence rate increased from 2.1% in 1996 to 4.2% in 1999 among MSM who sought anonymous HIV testing, and the rate was high (5.3%) but stable in a blinded survey of MSM seeking sexually transmitted disease services.

CONCLUSIONS

Any decrease in per contact risk of HIV transmission due to HAART use appears to have been counterbalanced or overwhelmed by increases in the number of unsafe sexual episodes.

Deciding where and how to be tested for HIV: what matters most?

This study examined preferences for specific types of HIV tests as well as for test attributes such as cost, counseling, and privacy. A survey was administered to 354 clients of public testing services. Nonparametric tests and logistic regression were used to compare test preferences and attribute ratings, and to assess differences by demographic and risk groups. Nearly two thirds of respondents chose a public clinic test as their first choice, whereas 24% chose a home self-test, 12% chose a test at a doctor's office, and 1% chose a home specimen-collection test. Three attributes (accuracy/timeliness, privacy of test disclosure, and linking of test results) were rated equally-and most-important. In-person counseling was endorsed as the fourth most important attribute. Availability of in-person counseling was the strongest predictor of "loyalty" to public clinic tests-a consistent preference for that type of test even when the other tests were offered as additional no-cost options. There was also substantial interest in home self-tests. The results suggest specific attributes of testing that may be particularly important to individuals from diverse demographic and risk backgrounds.

HIV testing in gay sex clubs

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a programme of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing at gay sex clubs. Conducting secondary analyses with 2 datasets, we evaluated HIV-testing preferences of patrons at 2 sex clubs and compared their risks to testers at a standard testing clinic. Sex club testers had significantly more partners and were significantly older than their clinic peers. Sixteen per cent of sex club testers reported that they would not test if testing were not available at the sex club. Gay sex clubs offer an opportunity to reach men at high risk for HIV, some who otherwise may not test.

Name-based reporting of HIV-positive test results as a deterrent to testing

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated attitudes toward name-based reporting of HIV.

METHODS

One hundred thirty high-risk, male repeat testers received information on the public health benefits of name-based reporting and reported their intentions to test.

RESULTS

Of the 67 men who were randomly selected and asked their intentions before hearing the benefits, 63% said they would not test if reporting were required. After hearing the benefits, 19% changed their minds (P < .014). Of the 63 men who were asked only after hearing the benefits, 44% would not test.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementing name-based reporting without working before-hand to change attitudes could undermine the benefits of both testing and HIV surveillance.

Psychosocial correlates of unprotected anal sex in a cohort of gay men attending an HIV-negative support group

The objective of this report is to identify psychosocial correlates of unprotected anal sex among attendants at a support group for HIV-negative gay and bisexual men. Presupport group measures were given to 55 self-identified urban HIV-negative gay and bisexual men in a high-incidence HIV location (San Francisco) attending a 10-week, weekly, 2-hour support group at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) AIDS Health Project. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires that included measures of perceived risk, condom self-efficacy, social support, HIV knowledge, and depression. At baseline, 25% of the participants reported unprotected anal sex (receptive or insertive) in the two months preceding enrollment. This finding was independent of whether the participant was single or involved in a relationship, and whether or not the participant's partner was infected with HIV. Participants were found to generally have very high AIDS knowledge and low depression scores. In bivariate analysis, unprotected anal sex was associated with low condom self-efficacy, low AIDS knowledge, dissatisfaction with social support, and lower commitment to safer sex. In multivariate analysis, unprotected anal sex was independently associated with low condom self-efficacy (p = .006), and low AIDS knowledge (p = .007). Additionally, a borderline significant result was found when measuring satisfaction with social support (p =.085). No association was found between depression scores and unprotected sexual activity.

Relationship of beta 2 microglobulin and CD4 counts to neuropsychological performance in HIV-1-infected intravenous drug users

This study explores the relationship of immune dysfunction to the neuropsychological performance of i.v. drug users (IVDUs) infected with HIV-1. Ninety-seven HIV-positive and 45 HIV-negative former IVDUs on methadone maintenance were evaluated using neuropsychological measures, physical examinations, and measures of immune function, including absolute CD4 counts and beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2-M). There were no significant differences between the HIV-positive and HIV-negative subjects on any single neuropsychological domain. There was, however, a significant group difference on a composite indicator of neuropsychological impairment, with 32% of HIV-positive subjects demonstrating some degree of overall impairment compared with only 13% of HIV-negative subjects. HIV-positive subjects were then stratified according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) symptom groupings: group II, asymptomatic, n = 29; group III, lymphadenopathy, n = 30; and group IV A or C-2, symptomatic, non-AIDS, n = 38. There were no significant neuropsychological differences among the three CDC groups. The HIV-positive subjects were also stratified on absolute CD4 counts (< or = 200, 201-400, and > 400) and beta 2-M (> or = 5, 3-5, and < 3). Individuals with greater immune compromise (CD4, < 200, beta 2-M, > or = 5) were more impaired on measures of motor functioning. beta 2-M was found to be a better predictor than CD4 count of impaired neuropsychological performance. Furthermore, individuals with beta 2-M values > or = 5 have more than a threefold increase in the incidence of neuropsychological impairment than those with beta 2-M values < 3.0. These results suggest that beta 2-M may serve as a useful clinical marker for the development of neuropsychological impairment and that the risk of such impairment increases as the immune system weakens.

The University of California at San Francisco AIDS Health Project. A community psychiatry approach to the AIDS epidemic

Each program within the AIDS Health Project is designed to work with individuals at different points along the continuum between a state of health at one end of the spectrum and the clinical disorder of AIDS at the other. Thus, individual programs reflect different levels of prevention. For example, the Prevention and Support Services (formerly the Worried Well) Program is an example of primary prevention; i.e., services are provided to healthy individuals who are at risk in an attempt to keep them from contracting the disease. The HIV Positives Being Positive Program is an example of secondary prevention in which services are provided to those who have premonitory symptoms of disease but have not yet developed the full-blown illness. The AIDS antibody counseling and testing program has elements of both primary and secondary prevention, as individuals who are counseled may prove to have either a positive or a negative test. Finally, the Mental Health Program at San Francisco General Hospital and the AIDS and Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) are examples of tertiary prevention. (Note: The ASAP actually incorporates all three levels of prevention through its various activities. As the original impetus for its development was to provide services to people with AIDS, however, we have listed it as a tertiary program.) In these programs, services are provided to individuals with the illness in an attempt to prevent psychological decompensation, to provide relief of current distress, and, perhaps, to delay disease progression.

Immune function and neuropsychological performance in HIV-1-infected homosexual men

This study explores the relationship of immune dysfunction to the neuropsychological performance of individuals infected with HIV-1. Fifty-five HIV-positive homosexual men and 37 negative homosexual controls were evaluated using neuropsychological measures, physical exams, and measures of immune functioning. There were no significant differences favoring HIV-negative subjects over HIV-positive subjects. HIV-positive subjects, in fact, performed slightly better on attention and memory procedures. The HIV-positive subjects were then stratified according to the Centers for Disease Control symptom groupings (Group II, asymptomatic, n = 19; Group III, lymphadenopathy, n = 17; and Group IVA or C-2, symptomatic, non-AIDS, (n = 19). There were no significant neuropsychological differences among the three CDC groups. The HIV-positive subjects were also stratified on two measures of immune functioning: absolute CD4 counts (< 200, 201-400, > 400) and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) (> or = 5.0, 3.0-5.0, < 3.0). Individuals with greater immune compromise, as measured by beta 2M, were more impaired on measures of attention and memory and had greater overall neuropsychological impairment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, 57% of the subjects who were abnormal on beta 2M were also impaired on measures of attention and memory, whereas only 14% of those with normal beta 2M were impaired on these same measures (p < 0.05). These results suggest that HIV-positive asymptomatics without evidence of immune compromise do not appear to be at greater risk of cognitive impairment than HIV-negative controls. However, for those HIV-positive individuals who are immune-compromised (even while asymptomatic), there is increased risk of neuropsychological impairment. These results also suggest that knowledge of serostatus and the use of the CDC classification system alone are insufficient in exploring the development of neuropsychiatric changes in HIV-1 infection.

Relationship of CD4 counts to neurophysiological function in HIV-1--infected homosexual men

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship of immune dysfunction to neurophysiological measures of brain-stem conduction time.

DESIGN

Three-year longitudinal prospective cohort study; results of time 1 analyses reported.

SETTING

San Francisco (California) General Hospital, Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology.

PATIENTS

Volunteer sample of 55 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and 37 HIV-negative homosexual men recruited from a larger cohort of homosexual men followed up since 1983 at San Francisco General Hospital as part of an ongoing study of the natural history and course of HIV type 1 infection.

INTERVENTION

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Auditory brain-stem responses and somatosensory evoked potentials for subjects stratified separately on HIV serostatus, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention symptom groupings, and absolute CD4 counts.

RESULTS

The HIV-positive subjects had an increased wave III-V interpeak latency of the right ear auditory brain-stem response compared with the HIV-negative subjects (t test, P < .05). There were no significant differences among the three Centers for Disease Control and Prevention groupings on any evoked potential measure. When HIV-positive subjects were stratified on a measure of immune functioning, ie, CD4 counts, individuals with greater immune suppression were more impaired on speed of auditory brain-stem conduction time (Mann-Whitney U test, P < .05). Furthermore, 85% of subjects impaired on this evoked potential measure had CD4 counts of less than 0.40 x 10(9)/L (400/microL), whereas only 15% of those impaired on this measure had CD4 counts of greater than 0.40 x 10(9)/L.

CONCLUSIONS

Asymptomatic HIV-positive subjects who do not have evidence of immune suppression do not appear to be at greater risk for neurophysiological impairment than HIV-negative subjects. The HIV-positive individuals who are immune suppressed (even while asymptomatic) appear to have an increased likelihood of central conduction time slowing as measured by evoked potential procedures.

A roundtable discussion: hospital leaders discuss QI implementation issues

To address critical questions regarding the practical application of quality improvement (QI) concepts within health care, the Joint Commission visited six hospitals that have been implementing QI for several years. After the site visits, the leaders of these hospitals participated in a roundtable discussion of QI issues. The discussion centered around nuts-and-bolts topics, such as leadership, implementing QI, barriers/resistances, medical staff involvement, cultural change, institutionalizing QI, and external environment. The roundtable discussion is excerpted in full from a new book, Striving Toward Improvement: Six Hospitals in Search of Quality, which tells the stories of the six hospitals and their transitions to QI.

Management and residential placement problems of patients with HIV-related cognitive impairment

The Neuropsychiatric AIDS Rating Scale, which classifies HIV-related cognitive impairment along a six-stage continuum, was used to explore the relationship between the severity of impairment and management and residential problems among 318 persons in San Francisco with suspected HIV-related cognitive impairment. Nearly half of the sample were in the moderate, severe, or end stage of impairment. One-third of the 318 persons, most of whom were in the moderate and severe stages, were reported to present residential placement problems. The management problems most associated with placement difficulties were home safety, wandering, confusion, and memory difficulties. More than a fourth of the moderately to severely impaired patients were living alone with no outside help or were homeless and living on the streets. Results of this study support the development of specialized residential programs for patients with HIV-related cognitive impairment.