Transcript Open slide - CTN Dissemination Library

Adoption of a rapid HIV testing and counseling program facilitates
state-wide implementation
B.
1
Holmes ,
1Lexington-Richland Alcohol
L.
2
Haynes ,
2
J.Korte ,
and Drug Abuse Council,
K.
2
Brady
2Medical
University of South Carolina,
Aims
HIV Testing and Counseling Course
State-Wide Implementation
To report on an initiative to implement
HIV rapid testing in substance abuse
treatment programs in the state of South
Carolina.
Prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS among
drug users continue to be a challenge for
addictions professionals. Scientifically validated
interventions have been developed to prevent
and treat HIV/AIDS among substance users.
Yet implementing those interventions requires
staff training, and, until this course was
developed, that training was not easily
accessible.
There are 33 state supported substance abuse
treatment agencies within the state of South
Carolina. These agencies provides services to
citizens in all 46 counties. In Fiscal Year 2010,
there were 12 local substance abuse treatment
agencies that were endorsed to conduct HIV
testing. An additional 4 agencies were added in
Fiscal Year 2011. Figure# 2 illustrates the
number of HIV tests that were conducted in the
state supported substance abuse treatment
agencies from July 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011.
A multi-agency collaboration between
the Single State Authority (DAODAS),
the State Health Department (DHEC) ,
the regional Addiction Technology
Transfer Center, (ATTC) and one
substance abuse treatment program that
adopted a rapid HIV testing and
counseling program following the
completion of a clinical trials, facilitated
state wide implementation.
LRADAC, a community-based treatment
program, was one of twelve sites that
participated in a randomized clinical trail,
sponsored by the NIDA/CTN,
(CTN0032) HIV Rapid Testing and
Counseling in Drug Abuse Treatment
Programs.
Upon completion of the trial, LRADAC
implemented a rapid HIV testing and
counseling program as a clinical service.
South Carolina’s previous efforts to
implement on site rapid HIV testing in 10
pilot agencies had less than optimal
success due to the absence of a
successful model on which agencies
could base their implementation plan.
With support from the collaborating
agencies, staff developed and presented
a 2 ½ day HIV testing and counseling
curriculum at the annual SC School of
Alcohol and Drug Studies in 2010.
Following the successful completion of
the course, participants were fully
certified to conduct testing and
counseling in their local programs.
Course participants had the opportunity
to learn the counseling and testing
procedures that LRADAC staff found
successful in implementing their
program.
Routinely within the state of South Carolina, it
would take approximately 6 months to be
trained to conduct HIV testing due to the
sporadic offering of required trainings. This
course , “Implementing Rapid HIV Testing in
an Addiction Treatment Setting,” was
designed to give participants the knowledge and
skills needed to implement a HIV testing
program in their local substance abuse
treatment facility.
Upon successful completion of the course all
participants were fully certified by SC
Department of Health and SC Department of
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services to
conduct HIV testing and counseling.
1
2
3
4
5
6
.
Substance Abuse
Treatment
Providers
# HIV Rapid Tests
Provided from
7/1/10 – 1/31/11
Aiken
0 ( Change in HIV EIS
Coordinator)
Alpha Center
0 (Newly funded-Building
Infrastructure
Anderson/Oconee
11
Charleston
0 (Newly funded-Building
Infrastructure)
Clarendon
0 (Newly funded-Building
infrastructure)
Florence
0 (Change in HIV EIS Coordinator)
Course Learning Objectives
Greenville
6
Participants will increase their knowledge of HIV,
AIDS, and other STDS.
Horry
49
LRADAC
307
New Life Center
0 (Newly funded-Building
Infrastructure)
Trinity Behavioral Health
0 (Newly funded-Building
infrastructure)
Spartanburg
33
Sumter
0 (Change in HIV EIS Coordinator)
Participants will improve their ability to
communicate with clients about the interface
between HIV risk behaviors and substance abuse.
Participants will learn to conduct the RESPECT 2 HIV
risk reduction counseling model.
Dawn Center
0 (Relies on Local DHEC staff
Person)
Williamsburg
0
York
168
Participants will learn to conduct HIV rapid tests.
Participants will become familiar with SC laws and
reporting requirements for HIV test results
Participants will review a model manual of SOPs for
conducting HIV testing and counseling in substance
abuse treatment program.
Figure #1: Course Objectives for HIV Testing and Counseling
Course offered at SC School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies,
Furman University, 7/2010
State-Wide Implementation (Continued)
Figure #3 LRADAC compared to all of the additional state supported substance
abuse treatment providers who are conducting HIV tests in South Carolina.
Conclusion
Although challenging, implementing HIV testing in
substance abuse treatment programs is feasible for
agencies. However, according to DAODAS, there
have been a number of reasons for the less than
optimal success of the HIV testing initiative including:
Loss of dedicated staff trained in provision of the
rapid test,
Changes in quality assurance protocols associated
with rapid testing
Impact of funding decreases and re-alignment of
staff locally
Time associated with hiring and training new staff,
etc.
Nevertheless, LRADAC remains as the front-runner in
the state’s HIV testing initiative. LRADAC continues to
offer their model, expertise and support to the state in
an ongoing effort to maximum this very important and
necessary service. LRADAC hopes to offer the HIV
testing and counseling course as needed in the future.
 Agencies represented at the HIV testing and counseling course
(DAODAS, 2011)
Figure #2: SC Substance Abuse Treatment Providers and the # of
tests that were conducted from 7/1/10-1/31/11.
Acknowledgement
•DAODAS
•CTN, Southern Consortium