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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Peer-Led or Expert-Led Intervention in HIV Prevention Efficacy? A Randomized Control Trial Among Spanish Young People to Evaluate Their Role

Cristina Giménez-garcíaMaría Dolores Gil-llarioRafael Ballester-arnalPedro Salmerón-sánchez

subject

AdultMaleSafe Sexmedicine.medical_specialtyNursing (miscellaneous)AdolescentUniversitiesDecision MakingHIV InfectionsContext (language use)Health PromotionAffect (psychology)Peer Grouplaw.inventionYoung Adult03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineRandomized controlled trialAcquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)lawSurveys and QuestionnairesIntervention (counseling)medicineHumans030212 general & internal medicine030505 public healthbusiness.industryPublic Health Environmental and Occupational Healthmedicine.diseaseSpainFamily medicineFacilitatorPhysical therapyFemaleHealth educationBrief intervention0305 other medical sciencebusinessRisk Reduction BehaviorProgram Evaluation

description

HIV new infections still affect young people around the world. In this context, behavioral interventions seem to be effective in promoting safe sex although some conditions are still inconclusive in different regions. For example, there is insufficient evidence about who may be the best facilitator. For this reason, this study evaluates the effectiveness of peer and expert facilitators for HIV prevention aimed at Spanish young people. For this purpose 225 Spanish college students, aged between 18 and 25 (74.20% women and 25.80% men), were involved in an experimental design to evaluate the facilitators’ effect in a brief intervention for HIV prevention. Participants’ results were measured by three HIV preventive variables (knowledge, beliefs, and protective sex behavior in vaginal sex, anal sex, and sex after drugs consumption). Our findings reveal that both facilitators, experts and peers, have improved the HIV-associated factors and safe sex behaviors. Therefore, facilitators’ status would not be so relevant for effectiveness in HIV prevention aimed at Spanish young people. To facilitate decision making in HIV prevention, we should study in depth what other variables make more effective facilitators.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2017-09-29Health Promotion Practice
https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839917733966