The consistency of self-reported HIV risk behavior among injection drug users.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES. Most studies of risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rely heavily on retrospective self-reports. The degree to which these reports provide reliable information has received little research attention. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which the reliability of retrospective self-report data is affected over time. METHODS. Data were examined from a longitudinal study of risk behaviors among injection drug users. Structured interviews were administered to 366 injection drug users who were asked to recall behaviors that they had reported 6, 12, or 18 months earlier. RESULTS. Kappa coefficients showed moderate initial memory loss for injection and sexual risk behaviors. After 6 months, time had little effect on the ability of injection drug users to recall injection and sexual risk behaviors. For ordinal measures of risk, subjects who gave different reports over time were most likely to disagree by one response category. CONCLUSIONS. These findings support the use of retrospective self-reports in assessing HIV risk behaviors among injection drug users. Retrospective inquiry is likely to remain an important method for collecting data over time.

Risk Factors Associated with the Transition with Transition to Heroin Injection: A Street Addict Role Perspective

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Longitudinal Investigation of Methamphetamine Use Among Gay and Bisexual Men in New York City: Findings from Project BUMPS

“…Participants were asked to report the other substances they had used in combination with methamphetamine in the previous 4 months, which is the maximum period of recall recommended to obtain accurate self-reports. 25,26 Reasons for Methamphetamine Use The Inventory of Methamphetamine Using Situations, modified from The Inventory of Drug Taking Situations (IDTS), 27 was used to assess reasons for use. It used a five-point Likert scale, from "never" to "always," to assess the frequency at which methamphetamine was used in various situations during the past 3 months.…”

Sex in Australia: The rationale and methods of the Australian Study of Health and Relationships

“…33 Good test-retest reliability has been demonstrated over periods up to 18 months apart. 34 A comparison of reports from sexual partners offers an alternative view of reliability, although it is also used as a surrogate marker of validity. 26 The reliability of self-report is supported by high levels of agreement in the reports of sexual activity between the sexual partners.…”