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Pamela Morse

Publications and source records attributed to Pamela Morse.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Enrollment of minority women and their main sexual partners in an HIV/STI prevention trial.

There is a paucity of empirical reports that quantitatively assess the success of recruitment strategies in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) using sampling units other than the individual. As innovations in HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) preventive intervention protocols and targets of change evolve, there is a need to examine the efficacy of attendant adaptations to recruitment protocols and strategies in the enrollment of study participants. This article examines factors related to enrollment of women and their main, male sexual partners in an RCT of a relationship-based HIV/STI preventive intervention conducted from 1997 to 2001. Among eligible participants (N = 388), findings indicate that race/ethnicity, employment status, marital status, and language preference were significantly associated with enrollment among eligible, potential participants. Additionally, being HIV-positive and having a past or current STI were significantly associated with enrollment. These findings underscore the need to ensure sufficient representation of all risk groups in RCTs, especially those testing innovative HIV/STI preventive intervention approaches or using novel enrollment strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dyadic HIV status and psychological distress among women on methadone.

PURPOSE: Studies examining the association between psychological distress and HIV status among women belonging to populations at elevated risk for HIV have found mixed results. The goal of this study is to shed greater insight into possible explanations for the mixed findings of the earlier studies. Specifically, we examine psychological distress as a function of dyadic HIV status--that is, the combination of a participant and her partner's HIV statuses--among women attending methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs). METHODS: A random sample of 349 female MMTP patients involved in intimate relationships provided self-reported data via structured, face-to-face interviews. Hypothesis testing involved multiple linear regression with 3 orthogonal contrast codes constructed from dyadic HIV status. RESULTS: Levels of psychological distress did not differ significantly between HIV-negative and HIV-positive women. HIV-negative women with HIV-positive partners reported significantly greater global levels, number of symptoms, and symptom severity of psychological distress compared to those with HIV-negative partners. HIV-positive participants with HIV-positive partners reported significantly lower global levels and symptom severity of psychological distress compared to those with HIV-negative partners. CONCLUSION: Findings support that psychological distress appears to differ as a function of the combination of a woman and her partner's HIV status rather than the woman's HIV status alone. Thus, dyadic HIV status represents an important factor with respect to the mental health needs of women in drug treatment.

Adult↗