Participants' Preferences for HIV Prevention Interventions

Background: Ontario has the highest number of HIV positive test reports in Canada. Many of the HIV prevention interventions had a moderate effect on changing unsafe sexual behaviors within the young adult population. Participants’ preferences for such interventions could be a contributing factor to the moderate effect of the prevention interventions. Treatment preference is defined as a positive or negative attitude toward a particular treatment. To date few empirical studies examined preferences for educational and cognitive/behavioral interventions focusing on HIV prevention for young adults. Purpose: The purpose of this study is twofold: to examine participants’ preferences for different types of educational and cognitive/behavioral intervention components for HIV prevention and to explore socio-structural, psychological and intervention related factors that affect participants’ preferences for intervention. Design: The study used a cross-sectional mixed methods design. The data were collected using a face-to-face interview. Structured and open-ended questions were used to inquire about participants’ preferences for intervention. Sample: The sample consisted of 150 young adults ranging in age from 18 to 39 years, and able to speak and read English. The sample was recruited from the Greater Toronto Area. Measures: The measures included an adapted questionnaire to elicit participant preference for intervention, the multi-dimensional locus of control questionnaire, AIDS health locus of control questionnaire and standard demographic questions. Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to examine preferences for intervention components. Regression analysis was done to explore the relationships between the selected factors and participants’ preferences for intervention. Findings: All 150 participants had a preference for an HIV prevention intervention. In terms of preference for treatment type, 64% preferred an intervention that incorporated a combination of educational and cognitive-behavioral components. Specifically, 23% preferred the intervention to incorporate all three components: educational information, communication skills and goal attainment. In addition, 49% of the participants’ preferred an intervention that incorporated an average of 1-4 sessions lasting 90 minutes in length. Of the socio-structural, psychological and intervention related factors hypothesized to be associated with participants’ preferences for intervention type, components and dose, intervention related factors were found to be the most significant factors related to participants’ preferences. Conclusions: Young adults preferred to have an HIV prevention intervention that encompassed a combination of education and cognitive-behavioral components when given the opportunity to choose their preferred interventions. Providing interventions that are consistent with participants’ preferences is posited as beneficial as it increases the participants’ sense of control, satisfaction with care, adherence to intervention protocol and achievement of desired outcomes.

Keywords: HIV Prevention
Preferences
Interventions
Advisor: Sidani, Souraya