title: Psychosocial predictors of needle sharing among intravenous drug users.
abstract: This study examined the relationship between health beliefs and needle sharing in a sample of 226 heroin detoxification clients. Zero-order correlations revealed that needle sharing was positively associated with perceived susceptibility and AIDS anxiety, and negatively associated with self-efficacy and communication skill in negotiating safe needle practices. Logistic regression analysis showed that demographic and situational factors also play a role in needle sharing. White race and injection of drugs in shooting galleries or other public places increase the odds of sharing a "dirty" needle, while that probability decreases sharply as a function of drug users' self-efficacy. This last finding suggests that preventive clinical interventions such as counseling or psychoeducational groups maybe needed to help drug users develop confidence in resisting needle sharing.
authors.affiliation: Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kegeles
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000523:psychology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology