The PRS efficacy criteria are used to determine if an HIV behavioral intervention is evidence-based, that is, if there is sufficient evidence that the intervention reduced HIV risk. The first PRS efficacy review (CDC, 1999) [1] and the update (Kay, 2003) [17], were based on the original criteria used for the Compendium of HIV Prevention Interventions with Evidence of Effectiveness.

Since that time, the HIV behavioral prevention research field has matured and become more rigorous. In 2004, to reflect the scientific progress in the field and focus on those interventions with the strongest evidence of efficacy, PRS strengthened its criteria for identifying evidence-based, individual- and group-level behavioral interventions. These revised criteria were developed as the result of multiple consultations with methodologists and HIV prevention researchers. These revised criteria focus on quality of study design, quality of study implementation and analysis, and strength of evidence of efficacy. Based on the overall quality of the study, evidence-based behavioral interventions are classified as either best-evidence or promising-evidence.

PRS is continually reviewing the literature and will update this website biannually to provide timely information to the prevention field. At the present time, these criteria only apply to individual- and group-level behavioral interventions. The PRS team is currently reviewing community-level interventions and will highlight those findings on this website once the review is completed.

Best-evidence Interventions

Best-evidence interventions are HIV behavioral interventions that have been rigorously evaluated and have been shown to have significant and positive evidence of efficacy (i.e., eliminate or reduce sex- or drug-risk behaviors, reduce the rate of new HIV/STD infections, or increase HIV-protective behaviors). These interventions are considered to be scientifically rigorous and to provide the strongest evidence of efficacy. These interventions meet the PRS efficacy criteria for best evidence.

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Promising-evidence Interventions

Promising-evidence interventions are HIV behavioral interventions that have been sufficiently evaluated and have been shown to have significant and positive evidence of efficacy (i.e., eliminate or reduce sex- or drug-risk behaviors, reduce the rate of new HIV/STD infections, or increase HIV-protective behaviors). While the evaluations of these interventions do not meet the same level of rigor as the best-evidence interventions, they are considered to be scientifically sound, provide sufficient evidence of efficacy, and address the HIV prevention needs of many communities by targeting high-risk populations. These interventions meet the PRS efficacy criteria for promising evidence.

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