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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Mar 15;11(1):4.
doi: 10.1186/s13722-016-0052-y.

A computer-assisted motivational social network intervention to reduce alcohol, drug and HIV risk behaviors among Housing First residents

David P Kennedy  1 , Sarah B Hunter  2 , Karen Chan Osilla  2 , Ervant Maksabedian  2 , Daniela Golinelli  2 , Joan S Tucker  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A computer-assisted motivational social network intervention to reduce alcohol, drug and HIV risk behaviors among Housing First residents

David P Kennedy et al. Addict Sci Clin Pract. .

Abstract

Background: Individuals transitioning from homelessness to housing face challenges to reducing alcohol, drug and HIV risk behaviors. To aid in this transition, this study developed and will test a computer-assisted intervention that delivers personalized social network feedback by an intervention facilitator trained in motivational interviewing (MI). The intervention goal is to enhance motivation to reduce high risk alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and reduce HIV risk behaviors.

Methods/design: In this Stage 1b pilot trial, 60 individuals that are transitioning from homelessness to housing will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control condition. The intervention condition consists of four biweekly social network sessions conducted using MI. AOD use and HIV risk behaviors will be monitored prior to and immediately following the intervention and compared to control participants' behaviors to explore whether the intervention was associated with any systematic changes in AOD use or HIV risk behaviors.

Discussion: Social network health interventions are an innovative approach for reducing future AOD use and HIV risk problems, but little is known about their feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy. The current study develops and pilot-tests a computer-assisted intervention that incorporates social network visualizations and MI techniques to reduce high risk AOD use and HIV behaviors among the formerly homeless. CLINICALTRIALS.

Gov identifier: NCT02140359.

Keywords: Alcohol and other drug use; Data visualization; EgoWeb; HIV risk behaviors; Homelessness; Housing First; Motivational interviewing; Social network intervention.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study design and procedures
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Hypothetical MNI participant network visualizations across two sessions. Each diagram demonstrates network members (“alters”) with circles (“nodes”) and lines (“edges”) connecting alters who have interacted with each other in the past 2 weeks. The left hand diagram (Session 1) depicts a network of ten nodes with two separate groups (“components”) and one network member who had no interactions with other alters (an “isolate”). One component in Session 1 is comprised of all AOD users and the other includes no AOD users. The right hand diagram shows that three of session 1 network members are no longer part of the network and three new members have been added to the network
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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