Adoption of HIV counseling and testing following completion of randomized clinical trial.

Substance abuse continues to be a major factor in transmission of HIV/AIDS, via injection and sexual risk behavior. Encouraging persons at risk to be tested is a primary HIV prevention strategy in the U.S., but many substance abuse treatment programs do not offer on-site HIV testing. The aim of the study described in this presentation was to evaluate strategies to increase adoption of HIV testing and reduce HIV risk behaviors among patients in a community-based treatment program. The Lexington-Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council (LRADAC), an outpatient community-based treatment program in the Southern Consortium Node, participated in National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network protocol CTN-0032. Following completion of the trial, LRADAC adopted (for clinical practice) the counseling and testing procedures used in the trial. The testing and counseling were piloted in the detoxification unit and subsequently implemented in outpatient clinics. Demographic characteristics of clients offered and accepting testing were tracked. Over 50% of clients offered testing in the detox program accepted the counseling and test. Demographic characteristics of clients who accepted counseling and testing did not differ from the detox population. The most common reason for declining counseling and testing was having recently been tested elsewhere. Demographic characteristics of clients accepting testing in the outpatient program will be tracked and compared to clinic demographic characteristics overall and in detox. Although many community programs have been slow to integrate HIV testing into routine clinic services, clients in one program that participated in a NIDA randomized clinical trial were receptive to counseling and testing following completion of the trial.

Related protocols: CTN-0032