SUMMARY

SMART COUPLES is a four-session intervention delivered by a nurse practitioner to serodiscordant (mixed HIV status) couples. The program aims to increase antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence in the partner living with HIV/AIDS by increasing knowledge about the importance of medical care adherence, increasing adherence motivation and self-monitoring, increasing problem solving skills to overcome adherence issues, increasing self-efficacy, and optimizing partner support. In addition, the program is designed to foster active support between partners, and to help couples address issues of sex, intimacy, and transmission risk behaviors.

SUITABLE FOR USE IN

SMART COUPLES was designed to be administered by a nurse practitioner to an HIV serodiscordant couple within a clinic setting. It may, however, be readily adapted for use in other settings and with other populations.

ORIGINAL INTERVENTION SAMPLE

Mean Age
42 years

Gender
54% male; 46% female

Race/Ethnicity
100% African-American

PROGRAM LENGTH

The program consists of four, 45- to 60-minute sessions.

STAFFING REQUIREMENTS/TRAINING

SMART COUPLES is delivered by a certified nurse practitioner. The Facilitator.s Manual provides detailed instructions to help him/her implement the intervention. The intervention facilitators who participated in the original outcome study received training and satisfactorily completed pilot sessions before meeting with trial participants. There is, however, no intervention-specific training required.