PowerON: The use of instant message counseling and the Internet to facilitate HIV/STD education and prevention

David A. Moskowitz; Dan Melton; Jill Owczarzak

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2009.01.002

PowerON: The use of instant message counseling and the Internet to facilitate HIV/STD education and prevention

David A. Moskowitz, Dan Melton, Jill Owczarzak

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: In recent years, Internet-based or online counseling has emerged as an effective way to assess psychological disorders and discuss destructive behaviors with individuals or groups of individuals. This study explores the application of online counseling to HIV/STD risk-taking behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: PowerON, an organization that provides sexual health information to MSM exclusively online, used instant message technology to counsel MSM in real time through computer-mediated means. A sample of 279 transcripts of instant message exchanges between PowerON counselors and Gay.com users were recorded and qualitatively analyzed. Results: Approximately 43% of the instant message sessions discussed information about HIV/STD testing. Risk-taking behaviors were addressed in 39% of the sessions. Information about HIV/STDs and general counseling were given in 23% and 18% of the counseling sessions, respectively. Conclusion: The data showed these instant message sessions to be a potentially feasible forum for HIV/STD counseling. Practice implications: Information ordinarily disseminated at health clinics could be successfully distributed through the Internet to MSM.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	20-26
Number of pages	7
Journal	Patient Education and Counseling
Volume	77
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2009.01.002
State	Published - Oct 2009
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

HIV/STD counseling
Online counseling
PowerON
Risk-taking behavior

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Medicine(all)

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10.1016/j.pec.2009.01.002

Cite this

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title = "PowerON: The use of instant message counseling and the Internet to facilitate HIV/STD education and prevention",

abstract = "Objective: In recent years, Internet-based or online counseling has emerged as an effective way to assess psychological disorders and discuss destructive behaviors with individuals or groups of individuals. This study explores the application of online counseling to HIV/STD risk-taking behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: PowerON, an organization that provides sexual health information to MSM exclusively online, used instant message technology to counsel MSM in real time through computer-mediated means. A sample of 279 transcripts of instant message exchanges between PowerON counselors and Gay.com users were recorded and qualitatively analyzed. Results: Approximately 43% of the instant message sessions discussed information about HIV/STD testing. Risk-taking behaviors were addressed in 39% of the sessions. Information about HIV/STDs and general counseling were given in 23% and 18% of the counseling sessions, respectively. Conclusion: The data showed these instant message sessions to be a potentially feasible forum for HIV/STD counseling. Practice implications: Information ordinarily disseminated at health clinics could be successfully distributed through the Internet to MSM.",

keywords = "HIV/STD counseling, Online counseling, PowerON, Risk-taking behavior",

author = "Moskowitz, {David A.} and Dan Melton and Jill Owczarzak",

note = "Funding Information: Special thanks to Gerulf Rieger, PhD, Elizabeth Moore, PhD, Keith Horvath, PhD, Alex Westerfelt, PhD, Kristin Leathers, Pys. D, and Brad Clark, MPH for their advice, data collection, coding and critical feedback. Preparation of this article was supported, in part, by United Way Heartland AIDS Partnership Grant, center grant P30-MH52776 from the National Institute of Mental Health (PI: J.A. Kelly) and by NRSA postdoctoral training grant T32-MH19985 (PI: S. Pinkerton).",

year = "2009",

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doi = "10.1016/j.pec.2009.01.002",

language = "English (US)",

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AU - Moskowitz, David A.

AU - Melton, Dan

AU - Owczarzak, Jill

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PY - 2009/10

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N2 - Objective: In recent years, Internet-based or online counseling has emerged as an effective way to assess psychological disorders and discuss destructive behaviors with individuals or groups of individuals. This study explores the application of online counseling to HIV/STD risk-taking behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: PowerON, an organization that provides sexual health information to MSM exclusively online, used instant message technology to counsel MSM in real time through computer-mediated means. A sample of 279 transcripts of instant message exchanges between PowerON counselors and Gay.com users were recorded and qualitatively analyzed. Results: Approximately 43% of the instant message sessions discussed information about HIV/STD testing. Risk-taking behaviors were addressed in 39% of the sessions. Information about HIV/STDs and general counseling were given in 23% and 18% of the counseling sessions, respectively. Conclusion: The data showed these instant message sessions to be a potentially feasible forum for HIV/STD counseling. Practice implications: Information ordinarily disseminated at health clinics could be successfully distributed through the Internet to MSM.

AB - Objective: In recent years, Internet-based or online counseling has emerged as an effective way to assess psychological disorders and discuss destructive behaviors with individuals or groups of individuals. This study explores the application of online counseling to HIV/STD risk-taking behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: PowerON, an organization that provides sexual health information to MSM exclusively online, used instant message technology to counsel MSM in real time through computer-mediated means. A sample of 279 transcripts of instant message exchanges between PowerON counselors and Gay.com users were recorded and qualitatively analyzed. Results: Approximately 43% of the instant message sessions discussed information about HIV/STD testing. Risk-taking behaviors were addressed in 39% of the sessions. Information about HIV/STDs and general counseling were given in 23% and 18% of the counseling sessions, respectively. Conclusion: The data showed these instant message sessions to be a potentially feasible forum for HIV/STD counseling. Practice implications: Information ordinarily disseminated at health clinics could be successfully distributed through the Internet to MSM.

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PowerON: The use of instant message counseling and the Internet to facilitate HIV/STD education and prevention

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Keywords

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