PowerON: the use of instant message counseling and the Internet to facilitate HIV/STD education and prevention.
OBJECTIVE
In recent years, Internet-based or online counseling has emerged as an effective way to assess psychological disorders and discuss destructive behaviors with individuals or groups of individuals. This study explores the application of online counseling to HIV/STD risk-taking behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM).


METHODS
PowerON, an organization that provides sexual health information to MSM exclusively online, used instant message technology to counsel MSM in real time through computer-mediated means. A sample of 279 transcripts of instant message exchanges between PowerON counselors and Gay.com users were recorded and qualitatively analyzed.


RESULTS
Approximately 43% of the instant message sessions discussed information about HIV/STD testing. Risk-taking behaviors were addressed in 39% of the sessions. Information about HIV/STDs and general counseling were given in 23% and 18% of the counseling sessions, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The data showed these instant message sessions to be a potentially feasible forum for HIV/STD counseling.


CONCLUSIONS
Information ordinarily disseminated at health clinics could be successfully distributed through the Internet to MSM.
Moskowitz
David A
DA
Medical College of Wisconsin, Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA. dmoskowi@mcw.edu
Melton
Dan
D
Owczarzak
Jill
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D034742:Electronic Mail; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015438:Health Behavior; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult