Healthy Choices: Motivational Enhancement to Promote Health and Reduce Risk in HIV-Infected Youth

In this Phase II multi-site clinical trial, HIV+ youth were randomized to receive either a four-session motivational enhancement intervention and referrals or standard care plus referrals. Participants randomized to the intervention group participated in four sessions of Healthy Choices, a motivational enhancement intervention specifically designed to target multiple risk behaviors in HIV+ youth. Participants received individualized referrals at the fourth session. Participants randomized to standard care also received individualized referrals. Interviews, self-report, chart review and blood tests were used to measure substance use, condom use, adherence to medications, and health outcomes, as well as hypothesized mediators and moderators of the intervention. The primary objective was to determine the efficacy of a motivational enhancement intervention in reducing health risk behaviors (drug and alcohol use, sexual risk behavior, poor adherence to medications) among HIV+ youth.