This study provided preliminary data on the effect size of a sexual health promotion program for HIV-positive gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). This community-based research study was directed by the Poz Prevention Working Group, a group with a majority membership of HIV-positive gay men, which is associated with the Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance (GMSH). The Poz Prevention Working Group and GMSH work to promote sexual health and prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections and HIV among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men.
GPS was a sexual health promotion program, which used a group counselling format with HIV-positive gay men as peer facilitators. GPS participants have told us they have really enjoyed the program, and data showed that it reduced participants’ feelings of loneliness and may help to improve sexual health outcomes. GPS was evaluated through a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Toronto and Vancouver. Data collection on this study ended in July 2018 and we have the following peer-reviewed published papers:
Hart, T., Noor, S., Skakoon-Sparling, S., Lazkani, S., Gardner, S., & Leahy, B. et al. (2020). GPS: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Sexual Health Counseling for Gay and Bisexual Men Living With HIV. Behavior Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2020.04.005
Hart, T., Stratton, N., Coleman, T., Wilson, H., Simpson, S., & Julien, R. et al. (2016). A Pilot Trial of a Sexual Health Counseling Intervention for HIV-Positive Gay and Bisexual Men Who Report Anal Sex without Condoms. PLOS ONE, 11(4), e0152762. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152762
Hart, T., Willis, A., Simpson, S., Julien, R., Hoe, D., & Leahy, B. et al. (2016). Gay Poz Sex: A Sexual Health Promotion Intervention for HIV-Positive Gay and Bisexual Men. Cognitive And Behavioral Practice, 23(4), 517-529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2015.11.002
Dr. Hart is Principal Investigator on this study with Co-Principal Investigator, Dr. Barry Adam, Director of Prevention at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network and University Professor at the University of Windsor.
This study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Ontario HIV Treatment Network, the Canadian HIV Trials Network, and the CIHR Centre for REACH in HIV/AIDS.
For more information, please visit the GPS website at GayPozSex.org