A Pilot Randomized Trial of Intervention Components Addressing Drug Use in Couples HIV Testing and Counseling (CHTC) with Male Couples

This study developed and examined the efficacy of two adjunct components to couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC)—communication training (CT) videos and a substance use module (SUM)—to reduce drug use and sexual HIV transmission risk in MSM couples. Parti cipants included 70 male couples randomized into one of four conditions: CHTC, CHTC + CT videos, CHTC + SUM, and CHTC + CT videos + SUM. Participants completed a survey pre-intervention and 1-, 3-, and 6-months later. Completion of the SUM in the absence of CT videos was associated w ith significant immediate decreases in drug use and related problems; however, at 3- and 6-month follow ups, the SUM was only associated with reductions in drug use and related problems among men who also viewed the CT videos. There were no between-condition differences in sexual behavior. CHTC may serve as a vehicle for the delivery of brief substance use intervention for MSM couples.ClinicalTrails.gov NCT # 03125915
Source: AIDS and Behavior - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research