Journal Article

The Potential of Alcohol “Heat-of-the-Moment” Scenarios in HIV Prevention: A Qualitative Study Exploring Intervention Implications

Masters, Tatiana, George, William H., Burris, Lauren D., Nguyen, Hong V., Gilmore, Amanda K., Kajumulo, Kelly F., Andrasik, Michele Peake, Otto, Jacqueline M.

2013

Overview

Scenarios simulating real-world risk situations have proven effective for substance use intervention methods and could potentially prove useful as an HIV-prevention method. This study explored qualitatively the development and use of such “in-the-moment” methods. We interviewed 97 moderate-drinking women (50 % Caucasian) after participation in an experiment requiring that they project themselves into a risky-sex scenario. Most participants (58 %) reported experiencing the scenario as a reflective tool characterized by two primary themes: (1) increased awareness of risk and (2) contemplation of behavior change. Findings suggest that “in-the-moment” methods depicting real-world risk situations and providing opportunities to reflect about behavioral choices and subsequent outcomes could prove a useful adjunct to HIV/AIDS-prevention interventions. Such methods could potentially augment existing prevention protocols.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome / Adult / AIDS / Alcohol Drinking - psychology / Alcohol use / Alcoholic Intoxication - psychology / Behavior change / Behavior modification / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Female / HIV / HIV Infections - prevention & control / Human immunodeficiency virus / Humans / Intervention / Interviews as Topic / Original Paper / Prevention / Prevention programs / Preventive medicine / Psychology / Public Health / Qualitative Research / Risk / Risk factors / Risk-Taking / Sexual Behavior / Social Sciences / Socioeconomic Factors / Substance abuse / Unsafe Sex - psychology / White people / Women / Young Adult