Using motivational interviewing in HIV field outreach with young african american men who have sex with men: A randomized clinical trial

Objectives. We sought to determine whether field outreach with motivational interviewing, as compared with traditional field outreach, leads to increases in HIV counseling and testing and rates of return for test results among young African American men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods. In a randomized, 2-group, repeated-measures design, 96 young African American MSM completed a motivational interviewing-based field outreach session and 92 young African American MSM completed a traditional field outreach session. The percentages of participants agreeing to traditional HIV counseling and testing (an oral swab of the cheek) and returning for test results were the primary outcome measures. Results. More of the participants in the motivational interviewing condition than the control condition received HIV counseling and testing (49% versus 20%; X21 = 17.94; P= 000) and returned for test results (98% versus 72%; X21 = 10.22; P=.001). Conclusions. The addition of motivational interviewing to field outreach is effective in encouraging high-risk young African American MSM to learn their HIV status. Also, peer outreach workers can be effectively trained to reduce health disparities by providing evidence-based brief counseling approaches targeting high-risk, minority populations.