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Effects of Intervention Attrition and Research Attrition on the Evaluation of an HIV Prevention Program

NCJ Number
167117
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 26 Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1996) Pages: 663-677
Author(s)
J Lauby; L Kotranski; K Feighan; K Collier; S Semaan; J Halbert
Date Published
1996
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined attrition from an intervention that was part of an HIV prevention program for out-of-treatment drug users in Philadelphia.
Abstract
Of 1,115 respondents, 87 percent completed the two-session HIV prevention intervention; of these, 69 percent completed the 6-month data collection. Factors related to completing the intervention were different from those related to completing the 6-month interview. Completing the intervention was associated with HIV risk behavior and with having a negative result on the project's HIV test. Research completion was related to indicators of a stable lifestyle. Individuals at highest risk were less likely to complete the data collection and were thus under- represented in the assessment of intervention efficacy. Results underscored the importance of measuring attrition from both the intervention and the research data collection in order to assess effects of selection bias on evaluation results. Implications of the results for HIV prevention program planners and evaluators are discussed. 22 references and 4 tables