Efficacy of a booster counseling session 6 months after HIV testing and counseling: a randomized, controlled trial (RESPECT-2).
BACKGROUND
HIV counseling prevents sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), with most of the benefit accumulating in the first 6 months.


METHODS
The authors conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of a 20-minute additional (booster) counseling session 6 months after HIV counseling compared with no additional counseling for prevention of STDs (gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis). Participants were 15- to 39-year-old STD clinic patients in Denver, Long Beach, and Newark.


RESULTS
Booster counseling was completed by 1120 (67.8%) of 1653 assigned to receive it. An incident STD during the 6 to 12 months after initial counseling (and within the 6 months after scheduled booster counseling) was detected in 141 of 1653 (8.5%) participants in the booster counseling group and 144 of 1644 (8.8%) in the no-booster group (relative risk, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.22). Three months after booster counseling, sexual risk behaviors were reported less frequently by the booster group than the no-booster group.


CONCLUSIONS
Booster counseling 6 months after HIV testing and counseling reduced reported sexual risk behavior but did not prevent STDs.
Metcalf
Carol A
CA
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Malotte
C Kevin
CK
Douglas
John M
JM
Paul
Sindy M
SM
Dillon
Beth A
BA
Cross
Helene
H
Brookes
Lesley C
LC
Deaugustine
Nettie
N
Lindsey
Catherine A
CA
Byers
Robert H
RH
Peterman
Thomas A
TA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D003120:Colorado; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009515:New Jersey; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic