HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by McElrath, K Articles by Comerford, M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McElrath, K Articles by Comerford, M

The consistency of self-reported HIV risk behavior among injection drug users.

K McElrath, D D Chitwood, D K Griffin and M Comerford

Comprehensive Drug Research Center, University of Miami, Fla. 33124.

OBJECTIVES. Most studies of risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rely heavily on retrospective self-reports. The degree to which these reports provide reliable information has received little research attention. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which the reliability of retrospective self-report data is affected over time. METHODS. Data were examined from a longitudinal study of risk behaviors among injection drug users. Structured interviews were administered to 366 injection drug users who were asked to recall behaviors that they had reported 6, 12, or 18 months earlier. RESULTS. Kappa coefficients showed moderate initial memory loss for injection and sexual risk behaviors. After 6 months, time had little effect on the ability of injection drug users to recall injection and sexual risk behaviors. For ordinal measures of risk, subjects who gave different reports over time were most likely to disagree by one response category. CONCLUSIONS. These findings support the use of retrospective self-reports in assessing HIV risk behaviors among injection drug users. Retrospective inquiry is likely to remain an important method for collecting data over time.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. S. Zaric The Impact of Ignoring Population Heterogeneity when Markov Models are Used in Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Med Decis Making, September 1, 2003; 23(5): 379 - 386. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. van Empelen, H. P. Schaalma, G. Kok, and M. W. J. Jansen Predicting condom use with casual and steady sex partners among drug users Health Educ. Res., June 1, 2001; 16(3): 293 - 305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. E. Hutton, G. J. Treisman, W. R. Hunt, M. Fishman, N. Kendig, A. Swetz, and C. G. Lyketsos HIV Risk Behaviors and Their Relationship to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Women Prisoners Psychiatr Serv, April 1, 2001; 52(4): 508 - 513. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Girardi, M. S. Aloisi, D. Serraino, M. Ferrara, F. N Lauria, M. Carballo, A. d'A. Monforte, G. Rezza, M. Moroni, G. Carosi, et al. Sexual behaviour of heterosexual individuals with HIV infection naive for antiretroviral therapy in Italy Sex. Transm. Inf., April 1, 2001; 77(2): 130 - 134. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. S. Zaric, M. L. Brandeau, A. M. Bayoumi, and D. K. Owens The Effects of Protease Inhibitors on the Spread of HIV and the Development of Drug-Resistant HIV Strains: A Simulation Study SIMULATION, October 1, 1998; 71(4): 262 - 275. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. D. CHITWOOD, D. C. McBRIDE, L. R. METSCH, M. COMERFORD, and C. B. McCOY A Comparison of the Need for Health Care and Use of Health Care by Injection-Drug Users, Other Chronic Drug Users, and Nondrug Users American Behavioral Scientist, May 1, 1998; 41(8): 1107 - 1122. [Abstract]