Assessing the impact of pre-test counselling upon HIV transmission, knowledge and motivation to change risk behaviour.

04.11.99

Paul Nicholls and Mime Mathews, Health Adviser
James Paget Health Care Trust
Lowestoft Road,
Gomeston,
Norfolk
Tel: 01493 452747

If the research work is complete, when was it completed?

July 1999.

If the research has been published, please give details:

The research was presented as a poster at the AIDS Impact Conference in Ottawa, Canada, July 1999.

Summary of research topic:

Pre-test counselling provides a unique opportunity for health education and planned behaviour change. The research hypothesis is that knowledge about HIV is increased by pre-test counselling (following DOH guidelines 1996) but motivation to change risk behaviour is not significantly changed.

Preliminary results showed initially variable knowledge about HIV, with low knowledge scores amongst some clients. Some improvement in knowledge was achieved in most cases by second testing. Confidence in efficacy was high however in the majority of respondents. Pre-test counselling did not significantly alter the profile of motivation for change scores.