Preventing HIV Secondary Transmission: An Integrative Review

Armed with effective interventions, nurse practitioners, nurses, and others who provide care to persons with HIV can reduce the rate of secondary transmission of this deadly virus among their patients. Therefore, the purpose of this integrative review was to examine the current research literature to determine the level of effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing such secondary transmission. The effective interventions reviewed consisted primarily of a combination of strategies that included education, counseling, and skills training. These strategies most often were supported by Social Cognitive Theory or a combination of behavior-based theories. Interventions effectively increased condom use, partner notification, and other safe sex practices. Because the interventions were effective whether brief or two hours in duration, many of the them are appropriately and easily implemented by healthcare providers in a private practice or clinic setting.