title: Psychosocial antecedents of needle/syringe disinfection by drug users: a theory-based prospective analysis.
abstract: Working from the AIDS risk reduction model and other theories of behavior change, we tested psychosocial antecedents of needle/syringe disinfection by 136 injection drug users. High perceived self-efficacy for risk reduction exerted a positive effect on needles/syringe disinfection attempts 1 year later. Self-efficacy was, in turn, related to lower perceived infection risk, peer norms more favorable to risk reduction, and greater knowledge of AIDS. Behavioral intention had no significant effect on subsequent disinfection attempts. These results suggest that disinfecting needles/syringes is partly non-volitional; that high perceived infection risk may be counterproductive to injection risk reduction; and that perceive self-efficacy, but not intention to change behavior, may be a useful leverage point for AIDS preventive intervention.
authors.affiliation: Drug Abuse Research Center, University of California at Los Angeles 90024, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Longshore
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Anglin
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004203:Disinfection; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone