SUMMARY

SHARP is an intensive, interactive single-session STI/HIV prevention intervention (divided into five segments) lasting 3.5 - 4 hours. It incorporates videos, lecture, group discussion and activities. The groups are organized by gender, either all males or all females; with no more than 10 per group (ideal number is 3 – 5 per group). Overall program goals are to deepen STI/HIV knowledge, improve correct condom use, reduce sexual risks and alcohol use, and set long-term goals to utilize knowledge and skills learned during the session.

SHARP was evaluated using a randomized controlled trial with three group-based conditions. These three conditions were HIV information only (control group); SHARP program (intervention group) and SHARP + motivational enhancement therapy (enhanced intervention group). All subjects were recruited from three temporary juvenile detention facilities in Denver, Colorado. The enhanced intervention condition (SHARP + Motivational Enhancement Therapy) was statistically different and more significant than the control condition (HIV Information only). Any decrease in alcohol problems over time was statistically significant in the SHARP condition and the SHARP + Motivational Enhancement Therapy, when compared to HIV Information only.

SUITABLE FOR USE IN

SHARP was designed to be used in temporary adolescent detention facility. The intervention may also be suitable for use in other detention or in-patient facilities as well as community-based and clinical settings.

ORIGINAL INTERVENTION SAMPLE

Age, Gender
The original intervention sample consisted of 484 adolescents with a mean age of 15.8 (SD = 1.1) and 82.7% were boys.

Race/Ethnicity
The sample self-identified as 36.6% Caucasian, 28.5% Hispanic, 12.9% African American, 4.8% Native American, 3.5% Asian, 2.1% Other Ethnicity, and 12.6% Biracial/Mixed Ethnicity.

PROGRAM LENGTH

SHARP is delivered as an intensive single session lasting 3.5-4 hours.

STAFFING REQUIREMENTS/TRAINING

SHARP was conducted by a gender-matched masters-level intervention leader who had been trained in the provision of each intervention condition, including specific training in Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Motivational Enhanced Therapy (MET). The developers of SHARP have developed a two-day training session that they hold at the University of New Mexico. If you would like more to learn more about this training opportunity, please contact Dr. Angela Bryan at abryan@unm.edu for information about pricing and scheduling.

In the event that the original developer is unable to provide training for their program, Sociometrics has trainers on staff who can conduct training for any archive program. Please contact PASHA staff at Sociometrics (650)949-3282 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.