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Biomedical subjects

J I Grossman

Publications and source records attributed to J I Grossman.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Outcomes of an AIDS prevention program for methadone patients.

Methadone maintenance patients are at risk of contracting or transmitting HIV through intravenous drug use and/or unsafe sexual practices. An outcome evaluation of a voluntary AIDS prevention program for methadone patients in three clinics (two experimental, one control) is reported. The prevention program included three components: didactic AIDS education, HIV antibody counseling/testing, and facilitated peer support groups. Participation in AIDS education was associated with increased knowledge of AIDS risks and with improved attitudes toward condoms. Peer group participation was associated with improved attitudes toward the use of condoms and with increased use of condoms. Learning of HIV seronegativity was related to increased self-efficacy and decreased intravenous drug use risk behaviors. Rates of participation in the prevention program were disappointing, but the program seemed beneficial for those patients who did become involved.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Reactions of methadone patients to HIV antibody testing.

The emotional and behavioral responses of methadone patients to HIV antibody testing were examined by comparing 8 seropositives with 8 matched seronegatives. Seropositives displayed a wide range of immediate emotional reactions to learning their results, but no severe or damaging reactions; seronegatives were uniformly relieved. Almost all patients informed other persons of their serostatus with unremarkable consequences. Seropositives had higher anxiety than seronegatives at the 3-month follow-up, but behavioral outcomes were similar, tending towards reduced AIDS risk. The sample's program retention rate one year later was 94%.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1989

Determinants of needle sharing among intravenous drug users.

Data from 110 IV-drug abusing persons in methadone maintenance were analyzed to determine the correlates of needle sharing. Sharing was directly related to peer group behavior, attitudes conducive to sharing, economic motivation to share, not owning injection equipment, and fatalism about developing AIDS. Sharers were aware of their AIDS risk. Indicated measures to reduce needle sharing would be positive peer support groups to help resist pressures to share, legal and free access to fresh injection equipment, education on the utility of risk reduction, and increased treatment options for IV cocaine users.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlates of participation in AIDS education and HIV antibody testing by methadone patients.

The authors examined the factors associated with methadone patients' decisions about participating in a clinic-based AIDS prevention protocol. Despite the offer of incentives, only 27 percent attended AIDS education and only 12 percent obtained voluntary HIV antibody (ab) testing. However, AIDS education was attended by proportionately more of those who were at highest risk for AIDS because of current intravenous drug use. The availability of HIV-ab testing neither encouraged nor discouraged participation in AIDS education. Patients who were relatively more likely to choose HIV-ab testing were older, had been or were married, had plans to have children, believed the test to be useful, and believed that their counselors support their decision to be tested. Those who declined to be tested were reluctant to confront the emotional aspects of their risk status, were concerned about possible breaches of confidentiality, and doubted the value of testing. The implications of the findings for implementing AIDS prevention measures in methadone programs are discussed. Programs need either to require attendance at AIDS education or give patients an incentive to attend. HIV-ab testing should be available but should remain voluntary. A stronger medical rationale for testing is developing and may increase future participation. Methadone programs must continue to engage patients actively in AIDS risk reduction efforts.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗