Testing an Optimized Community-Based Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Risk Reduction and Antiretroviral Adherence Intervention for HIV-Infected Injection Drug Users

ABSTRACT

The authors conducted a preliminary study of the 4-session Holistic Health for HIV (3H+), which was adapted from a 12-session evidence-based risk reduction and antiretroviral adherence intervention. Improvements were found in the behavioral skills required to properly adhere to HIV medication regimens. Enhancements were found in all measured aspects of sex-risk reduction outcomes, including HIV knowledge, motivation to reduce sex-risk behavior, behavioral skills related to engaging in reduced sexual risk, and reduced risk behavior. Improvements in drug use outcomes included enhancements in risk reduction skills as well as reduced heroin and cocaine use. Intervention effects also showed durability from post-intervention to the follow-up assessment point. Females responded particularly well in terms of improvements in risk reduction skills and risk behavior. This study suggests that an evidence-based behavioral intervention may be successfully adapted for use in community-based clinical settings where HIV-infected drug users can be more efficiently reached.

KEYWORDS:

• Behavioral intervention
• HIV infection
• HIV risk reduction
• implementation
• injection drug use
• intervention adaptation

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for ongoing research and career development support (K23 DA017015 [Copenhaver], K23 DA022143 [Bruce], and K24 017072 [Altice]).