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Jenny G. Namur, MPH, CHES1, Joy Haviland, BA2, Hendi Crosby Kowal, MPH, CHES2, Wendy K.K. Lam, PhD3, Susanna Nemes, PhD2, J. Cassandra Williams3, and Rachel Middlesteadt, BA3. (1) Danya International, Inc, 8737 Colesville Road, Suite 1200, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (2) Danya International, Inc., 8737 Colesville Road, Suite 1200, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-565-2142, jhaviland@danya.com, (3) Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluations and Interventions, Research Triangle Institute, PO Box 12194, 3040 Cornwallis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194
Background: To address the needs of women at highest risk for HIV, Danya International, Inc. (Danya) created the Women’s Interactive Screening to Establish Risk (WISER). This computerized, self-administered tool is the first HIV risk screening designed to be patient-centered and women-focused. The WISER captures information specific to HIV risk reduction and a variety of other risk factors, including, violence and depression. The WISER risk prioritization mechanism promotes patients to identify their risk of greatest concern and the risk they are most ready to change, thus allowing for the generation of individualized risk-reduction messages.
Objectives: An effectiveness evaluation examined the extent to which the experience of completing the WISER affected women’s help-seeking behaviors or initiated any risk-reduction behavior change.
Results: The effectiveness evaluation, conducted with 70 women - ages 18-57, consisted of two data collection sessions. At T1, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire, the WISER screening on a computer, and a follow-up evaluation. At T2, participants completed another questionnaire about their experience and any behavior change that resulted from taking the WISER. Results from the evaluation indicate the WISER is effective in increasing recognition of HIV risk and likelihood of discussing HIV risk with a healthcare provider. The screening resulted in increases in a variety of help-seeking and protective health behaviors including increased condom use.
Conclusions: While over-reporting of healthful behaviors is possible, the significantly greater percentage of women who reported engaging in risk-reduction activities and help-seeking behaviors after taking the WISER indicates an important impact on study participants.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Evaluation, Women and HIV/AIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.