Point for Point

Investigators: San Francisco AIDS Foundation HIV Prevention Project & The Prevention Point Research Group

Point for Point is a needle exchange intervention designed for implementation in street settings. Needle exchange operates on the premise that increased availability of sterile syringes can reduce the prevalence of needle-sharing among injection drug users (IDUs). Needle sharing, the use of the same syringe by more than one person, is associated with high rates of transmission of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Point for Point relies on trained volunteers to operate exchange sites at which sterile hypodermic syringes are exchanged for used syringes on a one-for-one basis. Volunteers also distribute condoms and provide exchangers with bleach, alcohol swabs, sterile cotton, and other materials associated with safer drug-injection techniques. Point for Point was evaluated under the name Prevention Point in connection with the Urban Health Study (UHS), a long-term study of the IDU community in San Francisco, CA. Data collected through UHS surveys revealed that Point for Point quickly became the principal source of sterile syringes for San Francisco IDUs, and that IDUs who reported regular use of the needle exchange were significantly less likely to report needle-sharing than IDUs who did not use the needle exchange. Participants also reported a significant drop in the median number of daily injections, and the proportion of respondents who reported their first injection behavior in the previous year dropped significantly. An overall decline in reported needle sharing was also observed (Watters, 1996; Watters, Estillo, Clark and Lorvick, 1994). Click here to view more detailed information on this program.

Portland Women's Health Program

Investigators: Brian W. Weir, MPH, Rosemary Breger, MPH, Kerth O'Brien, PhD, Carol J. Casciato, Ronda S. Bard, PhD, John A. Dougherty, PhD, Michael J. Stark, PhD

Portland Women's Health Program, a one-to-one behavioral intervention, aims to reduce HIV risk behaviors and increase life stability among women who were recently incarcerated. A community health specialist extensively trained in motivational interviewing (MI) techniques meets individually with women during 10 sessions delivered over three months. During program sessions, the health specialist uses MI techniques to empower and encourage women to explore potential positive changes they can make in their lives. The sessions are both directive, since the health specialist guides the conversation toward particular topics, and participant-centered, since the participant's experiences, views, and reluctance or readiness to change are central topics of discussion. All ten of the Portland Women's Health Program sessions address HIV-prevention in addition to life stability issues. Click here to view more detailed information on this program.

Prevalence and Predictors of Herbal Medicine Use in Surgical Patients, 2001

Investigators: Prasad S. Adusumilli, Leah Ben-Porat, Meriner Pereira, Daniel Roesler, & I. Michael Leitman

Despite the rapid rise in herbal medicine consumption, explicitly eliciting and documenting herbal medicine usage among surgical patients is poor. The purpose of this study was to assess the herbal medicine usage in surgical patients and the willingness of patients to reveal their herbal medicine usage to the surgical care staff. The Prevalence and Predictors of Herbal Medicine Use in Surgical Patients, 2001 was conducted at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York during a 10-week period. All eligible patients presenting for elective surgery were approached and asked to participate in the study by completing a self-administered questionnaire inquiring into the self-health perceptions, herbal medicine use, and communication of such usage to surgical health-care staff.

Profile of Child Care Settings: Center-Based Programs, 1990

Investigators: Ellen Eliason Kisker and Valarie Piper

The Profile of Child Care Settings Study was conducted for the U.S. Department of Education with the primary objective of determining the levels and characteristics of early education and care that are available in the United States. Telephone interviews were conducted with nationally representative samples of regulated home-based family day care providers and center-based early education and care programs between October, 1989 and February, 1990 using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) methods. This survey of center-based early education and care programs collected extensive data on a number of topics including general characteristics, admission policies and vacancies, types of children served, subsidies, staff, curriculum and activities, meals, health and safety, and operating experiences.

Profile of Child Care Settings: Home-Based Programs, 1990

Investigators: Ellen Eliason Kisker and Valarie Piper

The Profile of Child Care Settings Study was conducted for the U.S. Department of Education with the primary objective of determining the levels and characteristics of early education and care that are available in the United States. Telephone interviews were conducted with nationally representative samples of regulated home-based family day care providers and center-based early education and care programs between October, 1989 and February, 1990 using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) methods. The survey of home-based family care programs collected extensive data on a number of topics including care provided, children's activities, costs and income, help with child care, health and safety, and caregiver characteristics.

Project SMART: AIDS Education for Drug Users in Short-Term Treatment

Investigators: Benjamin Lewis

Developed for use in short-term in-patient drug treatment programs, Project SMART includes two distinct interventions: a two-session informational intervention and a six-session enhanced intervention that includes both informational and behavioral skills training. A trained health educator delivers both interventions. In the informational intervention, participants receive an overview presentation about AIDS, complete homework, and watch condom-use and works-cleaning demonstrations. In the enhanced intervention, participants also participate in role-plays, watch video presentations, and practice condom-use and works-cleaning skills. Click here to view more detailed information on this program.

Project TALENT: Consequences of Adolescent Childbearing for the Young Parents' Future Life, 1960-1974

Investigators: J. J. Card

This study investigated the educational, occupational, and family-related consequences of adolescent pregnancy and childbearing for young women and men who were in the ninth grade in the U.S. in 1960. The study utilized data for a subset of 7,656 individuals (1,883 blacks and 5,773 whites) who had participated in a large-scale educational research study called Project TALENT. Data available include demographic background, cognitive characteristics, and social-psychological characteristics as measured in ninth grade; educational, marital, and childbearing histories through age 29; and plans and expectations at age 29 regarding future childbearing.Note for users of DAAPPP Data Sets #01-B1DAAPPP data sets 01 through B1 are comprised of a User's Guide, SPSS syntax files (*.SPS or *.SPX) and raw data files only. Most of these datasets contain SPSS syntax files that use Job Control Language (JCL) from 1980s versions of SPSS-X. Because the syntax is old, the syntax files require editing to conform to the current syntax standards used by SPSS/Windows or SPSS/Unix. If you require technical assistance in using or editing these syntax files, please contact Sociometrics' Data Support Group at 800.846.3475 or socio@socio.com.

Prospero Project Condom Study, San Francisco, 1989-1991

Investigators: Dan Waldorf and David Lauderback

The Prospero Project Condom Study, San Francisco, 1989-1991, which was conducted between December 1989 and April 1991, explored condom use in 552 male sex workers in San Francisco - men who are at high risk to contract and spread the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Investigators employed face-to-face interviews to gather detailed information about the conditions (e.g., type of partner, type of sexual activity) under which condoms were and were not used. In addition, the investigators sought to quantify the amount of condom failure (i.e., breakage and/or slippage) in this population. This dataset includes information on 736 variables across 552 cases. Respondents were identified through a combination of methods, including snowball sampling, and represented two types of sex workers, hustlers and call men, who are gay, bisexual, heterosexual, or transvestite/transsexual.

Protect and Respect

Investigators: Michelle Teti, Linda Lloyd, Susan Rubinstein, Lisa Bowleg, Mary Ann Nkansa, Russell Cole, Zekarias Berhane, Erika Aaron, Ann Ricksecker, Marla Gold, Susan Spencer, Rhonda Ferguson, Dianne Rorie

PROTECT AND RESPECT, a clinic-based, behavioral intervention, aims to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV by decreasing high-risk behaviors among women living with HIV/AIDS. The intervention delivers HIV prevention messages in the following three ways: (1) a primary care provider counsels participants during health care visits; (2) an Intervention Specialist leads five group skills building sessions that teach skills to reduce sexual risk behaviors; and (3) Peer Educators conduct weekly discussion groups, which support participants. attempts to implement behaviors learned in the group skills building sessions. The program provider delivers a one-time, brief prevention message lasting 3 . 5 minutes, while the group skills building sessions consist of five 2-hour weekly educational sessions delivered over a 5-week period. The peer-led support groups meet weekly for 1-hour, beginning after the group skills building sessions have concluded, and may extend for as long as the program is in effect. During support group sessions, women are provided with an opportunity to discuss specific topics such as HIV risk reduction strategies, how to disclose, handling stress, or communicating with partners. Click here to view more detailed information on this program.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Periconceptional Multivitamin Supplementation on Structural Birth Defects and Pregnancy Outcomes, 1984-1994

Investigators: Andrew E. Czeizel

The Randomized Controlled Trial of Periconceptional Multivitamin Supplementation on Structural Birth Defects and Pregnancy Outcomes was conducted between 1984 and 1994 at the Family Planning Center in Budapest, Hungary. The study was conducted to test the preventive effect of periconceptional1 multivitamin supplementation on the first occurrence of neural tube defects and other congenital abnormalities. The study was a randomized double-blind controlled trial involving 4,862 informative offspring from 4,783 women. Women planning a pregnancy were randomly assigned to receive a single tablet of a vitamin supplement or a trace-element supplement daily for at least one month before conception and until the date of the second missed menstrual period or later. Up to four visits with study staff took place during the study. Pregnancy outcomes were evaluated prenatally, shortly after birth, and during a follow-up medical examination after the infants' 8th month of life.