NIDA-Funded Interactive "Video Doctor" Program Reduces Drug And Sexual Risk Behaviors

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 06 Feb 2009 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Positive Choice, an innovative computer-based counseling program funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), has been shown to sharply reduce sexual and drug risk behaviors among people living with HIV/AIDS. This program, designed and evaluated by the University of California, San Francisco, has been chosen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for inclusion in The 2008 Compendium of Evidence-Based HIV Prevention Interventions. To be included, programs must be scientifically proven to reduce HIV- or STD-related risk behaviors, or to promote safer behaviors. The 2008 Compendium is a single source of information that informs State and local HIV prevention programs about what works for preventing HIV infections and includes a total of 57 interventions.

This interactive risk assessment and risk reduction counseling program uses a video doctor to simulate the ideal doctor-patient risk counseling conversation, which provides a way to help clients talk with their health care providers. The program matched risk assessment responses to tailored interactive video clips. Following the counseling sessions, patients were prompted to discuss their risky behaviors with their health care provider. At the 3- and 6-month followups, the researchers noted a significant reduction in illicit drug use and unprotected sex. Similarly, moderate decreases in substance abuse and casual sex partners were also observed.

This research was published in the April 2008 issue of PLoS One.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information, inform policy, and improve practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and information on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home page at http://www.drugabuse.gov.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse

• Additional
• References
• Citations