Evaluation of Telephone Support Groups for Persons With HIV Disease

Abstract

In this article we describe the development and field testing of a telephone support group project for persons with HIV disease using the Thomas and Rothman integrative framework for intervention research. We report results from the evaluation of the field test examining data from the 18 participants' pre- and postquestionnaires related to five outcomes: (a) self-efficacy, (b) social isolation, (c) social support, (d) coping with living with HIV disease, and (e) evaluation of the group experience. Field test results in accomplishing these aims were mixed. We found significant positive changes in some aspects of self-efficacy and in social isolation, but not in social support and coping. Results from the posttest indicated that participants rated the group experience as beneficial and that they were very satisfied with their participation in the groups.