title: Characterizing and improving HIV/AIDS knowledge among cocaine-dependent outpatients.
abstract: The present study was an experimental test of efficacy of a brief education intervention for increasing HIV/AIDS knowledge among cocaine-dependent outpatients. Participants were randomly assigned to an HIV/AIDS education intervention (experimental condition) or a sham intervention (control condition). Control participants were subsequently crossed over to the HIV/AIDS education intervention. Experimental participants had higher scores on tests of HIV/AIDS knowledge after receiving the education intervention than did control participants. Further supporting the intervention's efficacy, control participant scores also increased once participants were crossed over and received the education intervention. Scores at follow-up were lower than at postintervention but remained higher than baseline scores. Results support the intervention's efficacy for increasing HIV/AIDS knowledge among cocaine-dependent outpatients. This intervention is brief, inexpensive, and easily implemented.
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, 1 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401-1419, USA. sarah.heil@uvm.edu
authors.forename: Sarah H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Heil
authors.forename: Stacey C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sigmon
authors.forename: Joan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mongeon
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Higgins
mesh_terms: D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods