Prevention with gay and bisexual men living with HIV: rationale and methods of the Seropositive Urban Men's Intervention Trial (SUMIT).
OBJECTIVE
To provide a public health rationale for prevention with HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men and to describe the methods of the Seropositive Urban Men's Intervention Trial (SUMIT).


METHODS
A randomized intervention trial.


METHODS
Self-identified HIV-positive gay and bisexual men were recruited from community-based venues in New York City and San Francisco. Eligible participants completed an A-CASI baseline assessment, were asked to provide samples for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, and were randomly assigned to either a single-session intervention or a six-session enhanced intervention designed to reduce HIV transmission risk and promote serostatus disclosure. Participants who attended the first intervention session were assessed 3 and 6 months post-intervention. STI testing was offered at the 6-month assessment.


RESULTS
A total of 1168 self-identified HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men completed the baseline assessment, and 1110 of these (95%) opted for STI testing. A total of 811 attended the first intervention session, of which 85% were assessed at 3 months and 90% were assessed at 6 months. Of those assessed at 6 months, 92% (670/729) provided a blood or urine sample for STI testing.


CONCLUSIONS
SUMIT demonstrates the feasibility and acceptability of prevention research with HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men. The study provides new information about the sexual behavior, serostatus disclosure practices, and the efficacy of an intervention to reduce HIV transmission risk.
Wolitski
Richard J
RJ
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road (E-37), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. rwolitski@cdc.gov
Parsons
Jeffrey T
JT
Gómez
Cynthia A
CA
Purcell
David W
DW
Hoff
Colleen C
CC
Halkitis
Perry N
PN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001727:Bisexuality; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D012650:Self Disclosure