Grant: Doctoral Research Award - PA: Health Services/Pop. Health HIV/AIDS Research

The rate of new HIV infections in Canada has increased over the past decade, and unprotected anal sex between men represents the main mode of transmission. Highly active antiretroviral treatment has increased the life expectancy of HIV-infected people, yet may have contributed to an attitude of HIV complacency. HIV complacency has been broadly defined as the act of minimizing, discounting, or discrediting the threat of HIV and it has been associated with high-risk sexual behaviour. Single-session interventions have been effective at reducing high-risk sexual behaviour, but none have specifically targeted HIV complacency. The current study will pilot-test a single-session intervention to reduce HIV complacency and sexual risk behaviour among 150 sexually active, HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM), and will examine HIV complacency in a Canadian sample. The intervention is expected to reduce the frequency of unprotected anal intercourse by introducing discrepancy between an individual's beliefs and sexual health-related behaviour, then by motivating behavioural change. This study will provide descriptive information about HIV complacency in a Canadian context, and is the first study to specifically target HIV complacency in an HIV-prevention intervention. This study will provide initial data on a potentially time- and cost-effective HIV prevention intervention that is easily administered in a community setting by individuals with minimal training.