Alcohol use and stigmatized sexual practices of HIV seropositive gay and bisexual men.

HIV seropositive (HIV+) gay and bisexual men continue to report unprotected sexual practices. Although numerous research studies have examined the relationship between alcohol use and unsafe sex, few have examined this from a qualitative perspective. In this paper, we examined the impact of alcohol use on stigmatized sexual practices among HIV+ gay and bisexual men with alcohol-use disorders. An ethnically diverse sample (81% men of color) from the New York City metropolitan area was recruited from a variety of settings frequented by gay and bisexual men. Using a qualitative interview, contextual issues regarding sexual activities under the influence of alcohol were examined. Qualitative analysis revealed that alcohol use facilitates engagement in sexual practices that are perceived as stigmatic while sober. Interventions targeting alcohol use and unsafe sex should be sensitive to the role which alcohol plays in the sexual practices among HIV+ gay and bisexual men.

Family medicine month in a university-based program: establishing a family medicine identity.

"Family Medicine Month," a rotation forfirst-year residents, was developed to clarifyfirst-year residents'new roles as family physicians. The rotation explored the meaning and history of the specialty, as well as teaching core family medicine clinical and behavioral skills. Twenty residents who participated in the rotation in 1999 and 2000 indicated satisfaction with the rotation and endorsed its usefulness. They also reported greater self efficacy in performing family practice skills after the rotation, compared with before the rotation. Results suggest that a curriculum based on the context of family medicine as a specialty enhances resident satisfaction and self efficacy.