Telephone-administered motivational interviewing and behavioral skills training to reduce risky sexual behavior in HIV-positive late middle-age and older adults

By 2014, 50% of all persons living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. will be 50. years of age or older. An estimated 13% to 30% of HIV-positive older adults continue to engage in risky sexual behaviors that risk HIV transmission. Project SAFER, a large pilot randomized controlled trial, evaluated telephone-administered motivational interviewing and behavioral skills training to reduce sexual risk behavior in HIV-positive, urban-dwelling late middle-age and older adults. The intervention consists of 4 weekly integrated motivational interviewing and behavioral skills training sessions delivered by a mental health clinician over the telephone. This paper highlights study procedures and intervention outcomes. The primary focus, however, is a detailed description of the 4-session intervention with sample counselor-client dialogue that is thematically emblematic of topics addressed in the intervention. We conclude with lessons learned conducting telephone-administered motivational interviewing and behavioral skills training with HIV-positive late middle-age and older adults.