title: A Randomized Study of Incentivizing HIV Testing for Parolees in Community Aftercare.
abstract: HIV risk-behaviors are high in criminal justice populations and more efforts are necessary to address them among criminal justice-involved substance abusers. This study examines the role of incentives in promoting HIV testing among parolees. Participants were randomly assigned to either an incentive (n = 104) or education group (control; n = 98), where the incentive group received a voucher for testing for HIV. Bivariate comparisons showed that a larger proportion of those in the incentive group received HIV testing (59% versus 47%), but this was not statistically significant (p = .09). However, in a multivariate logistic regression model controlling for covariates likely to influence HIV-testing behavior, those in the incentive group had increased odds of HIV testing in comparison to those in the education group (OR = 1.99, p < .05, CI [1.05, 3.78]). As a first of its kind, this study provides a foundation for further research on the utility of incentives in promoting HIV testing and other healthy behaviors in criminal justice populations.
authors.affiliation: RAND Corp., Santa Monica, California, and College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, California.
authors.forename: Preeta
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.affiliation: UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prendergast
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003416:Criminal Law; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult