Are counselor demographics associated with successful human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted disease prevention counseling?
OBJECTIVE
HIV prevention counseling has changed behavior and reduced incident sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in research participants.


OBJECTIVE
This article assesses whether counselor demographics or counselor-client dyad characteristics influenced prevention counseling in Project RESPECT as measured by intervention completion and incident STD after counseling.


METHODS
We analyzed data from Project RESPECT, a randomized, controlled trial of HIV counseling interventions in STD clinics.


RESULTS
There was no significant association between client failure to complete the intervention and demographic characteristics of the 32 counselors or dyad characteristics. Clients who did not complete the intervention were significantly more likely to acquire a new STD infection by the 12-month visit than those who completed the intervention (adjusted odds ratio, 1.7; confidence interval, 1.2-2.4). There was no significant association between new STDs and counselor characteristics or dyad characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
Counselor or counselor-client dyad characteristics evaluated in this study were not associated with intervention completion or the prevention of new STDs.
Pealer
Lisa N
LN
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. LPealer@cdc.gov
Peterman
Thomas A
TA
Newman
Daniel R
DR
Kamb
Mary L
ML
Dillon
Beth
B
Malotte
C Kevin
CK
Zenilman
Jonathan
J
Douglas
John M
JM
Bolan
Gail
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003376:Counseling; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome