Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bay Area Reporter - August 3, 2006
Roger Brigham
"The studies showed positive outcomes in all areas, especially in medication adherence, psychological functioning, and reduced substance abuse," said Jeffrey Leiphart, Ph.D., director of Shanti's LIFE Institute. "We were really surprised at that. It never occurred to us we would get such a big outcome on that."
The next LIFE program session in San Francisco, free of charge to city residents, begins August 16. A session conducted in Spanish begins August 17. Information on the program in San Francisco and other cities and how to apply are available from the Shanti Web site at www.shanti.org/life/. The national studies can be downloaded from that site.
The summary from a state Department of Health Services study from 2001-05 was presented at the annual American Public Health Association meeting in Philadelphia in December and stated, "Well-validated measures show increased treatment adherence and quality of life as a result of the LIFE intervention. An overall improved quality of life may be responsible for the significant decrease found for use of drugs to get high.
"Significant changes were found for general health, cognitive function, mental health, energy, health distress, and quality of life. Effects sizes were moderate, except for general health and energy. Finally, there was a significant decrease in reported use of drugs to get high, pre- versus post-intervention."
Those findings parallel the results of a national multi-agency study conducted during 2002-05 of LIFE programs operating in a dozen cities in California, Florida, Missouri, and Massachusetts. That study showed clients who completed the 16-week program reported dramatically reduced physical health problems.
The LIFE program in San Francisco, which has been replicated as a model for HIV programs throughout the country, started in 1999 and offers a multi-faceted approach to help HIV-infected individuals cope with sustaining proper medical care and medication, preventing risk-exposing behaviors, and improving their health-building behaviors.
Leiphart said traditional public health treatment and education programs are based on a 19th century model "that came out of the public health system in England. Look at cigarette education. Education does not lead to behavior change. It is not sufficient. What we are saying is that there are 'risk drivers' that take over. Rather than saying you need to know the behavior is wrong and you should stop, we need to tell people how they are putting themselves in danger.
"If there is anything that you are doing that is risk related, we take a look at that. We talk about motivation and payback: 'Why are you doing it?' When we talk about unsafe sex and needle use, we embed it in a larger context of self-interest."
Leiphart said the studies also indicated participants showed they improved their adherence to HIV medication protocols and doing such basic activities as working out and drinking fluids.
"Health supporting behavior: going to the gym, drinking enough water, eating well, taking medications as prescribed," Leiphart said. "One thing people always seem to have to deal with is, why is stuff bad for your health so easy to do and stuff that is good so hard to do?"
Leiphart said on online version of the facilitated program is currently being tested internally and evaluated for its effectiveness as a stand-alone program or as a supplemental tool.
To learn more about Shanti's LIFE program call (415) 674-4700.
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