Effectiveness of a psychoeducational approach to HIV risk behavior reduction.

The effectiveness of a psychoeducational treatment program for reducing high-risk HIV transmission behaviors was compared with that of an information only group evaluated in a sample of 127 inpatients (aged 22–62 yrs), mostly African-American, on a drug abuse treatment unit. Both treatments were effective in increasing factual knowledge about AIDS, proficiency at demonstrating correct procedures for needle cleaning and condom use, and perceived susceptibility to and response efficacy for avoiding HIV infection. At posttreatment, Ss in the psychoeducation condition obtained higher scores on the condom demonstration test; however, at 1-mo follow-up, the performance of both groups on this test was equivalent. In terms of HIV knowledge, the psychoeducation group was superior at follow-up, but not at posttreatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)