Writing about Risk: Use of Daily Diaries in Understanding Drug-User Risk Behaviors

Thomas J. Stopka, Kristen W. Springer, Kaveh Khoshnood, Susan Shaw, Merrill Singer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

As part of a larger syringe access and HIV risk study, a subsample of 23 current injection drug users completed daily diaries, highlighting activities related to syringe acquisition, use, and discard. Diaries have been previously utilized in a variety of psychological, public health, and nutrition studies to assess risk as well as correlated behaviors. We piloted the diary methodology in three northeastern U.S. cities (Hartford and New Haven, CT, and Springfield, MA) to learn about correlates of HIV risk. We discovered that the method provided advantages over several other qualitative and ethnographic methods. Results indicate that daily diaries elucidated (1) patterns of injection drug use, (2) sporadic and high-risk events, (3) HIV and hepatitis risk related to the syringe life cycle, and (4) emotional correlates of drug use. Furthermore, we witnessed an unexpected intervention effect that the diary may have in the lives of drug users.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)73-85
Number of pages13
JournalAIDS and behavior
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2004
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

Keywords

  • Diaries
  • Human immunodeficiency virus
  • Injection drug users
  • Qualitative
  • Substance use

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