“Embracing A Global Vision”

Press Release

Research Participants Wanted for New HIV

Disclosure Intervention Program

The “Disclosure to family? You choose” intervention for HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) is designed to help men improve their HIV-disclosure skills and gain comfort and confidence disclosing to family members. Dr. Julianne Serovich, Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University, developed the pilot intervention in conjunction with other HIV researchers, prevention specialists, and HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM), and is now recruiting research participants to test the program’s effectiveness.

Dr. Serovich is interested in recruiting HIV-positive MSM who are 18 years old or older, feel distressed about disclosure (or find themselves unable to disclose), and are willing to participate in 5 sessions over a three month-period. Each session is expected to last approximately 1 ½ hours, and participants are paid $25 for their evaluation of each session.

Participants are randomly assigned to one of two conditions: person facilitated face-to-face individual sessions, or a wait-list control group. Participants will engage in several exercises to help learn disclosure strategies, identify costs and rewards of particular strategies, ways to minimize disclosure costs, and how to deal with reactions.

“Participation in the study may offer opportunities for increased knowledge, improved skills, and personal growth,” says Dr. Serovich. “For those participants struggling with disclosure decisions, this experience may be cathartic. For example, simply discussing the struggles surrounding secrecy related to one’s HIV status may be relieving. Such discussions may also offer hope about the positive consequences of disclosure and provide individuals alternative ways in which to think about the benefits of disclosure.”

“Our hope is that by improving communication skills and incorporating new tools for disclosure participants may reduce emotional distress, increase intimacy, and improve access to social support. Participants may experience increased levels of empowerment (through proactive self-disclosure), enhanced sense of responsibility to self and others, and feel rewarded for taking positive actions.”

Participation is voluntary and all information associated with this study will remain strictly confidential. If you have questions or would like to discuss eligibility, please contact the project office at (614) 688-4168. Minorities are especially encouraged to participate.