Effectiveness of counseling in the health promotion of HIV-positive clients in the community

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a nurse's counseling intervention on high-risk sexual behaviors of HIV-positive patients and to explore the relationship of gender, race, age, and education to high-risk sexual behaviors. A convenience sample of 20 adults who were newly diagnosed with HIV and were being treated at an inner-city out-patient clinic was used. Subjects were administered a questionnaire to determine their precounseling AIDS knowledge and precounseling sexual behaviors. A registered nurse then counseled them about safe-sex practices. After 2-3 months the questionnaire was readministered to determine the effects of counseling on AIDS knowledge and high-risk sexual behaviors. Although statistical analysis indicated a significant main effect for change in high-risk sexual behaviors after counseling, there were no significant relationships among change and the individual demographic variables of age, gender, race, and education. Pretest knowledge was not found to influence pretest behavior, nor was posttest knowledge found to affect posttest behavior. Paired t tests indicated a significant change in high-risk sexual behavior scores after counseling but no significant change in knowledge scores.