Description of an efficacious behavioral peer-driven intervention to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in AIDS clinical trials

• Published in: Health education research 2013-08, Vol.28 (4), p.574-590
• Main Authors: Leonard, N. R., Banfield, A., Riedel, M., Ritchie, A. S., Mildvan, D., Arredondo, G., Cleland, C. M., Gwadz, M. V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - diagnosis; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - ethnology; African Americans - education; African Americans - psychology; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Attitude of Health Personnel; Black American people; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials as Topic - psychology; Clinical Trials as Topic - standards; Clinical Trials as Topic - statistics & numerical data; Fear - psychology; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice - ethnology; Health technology assessment; Hispanic Americans - education; Hispanic Americans - psychology; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Hispanic people; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Latin American people; Male; Mass Screening - psychology; Original; ORIGINAL ARTICLES; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Patient Navigation - methods; Patient Navigation - organization & administration; Patient Selection; Peer Group; Screening; Selection Bias; Trust - psychology
• ISSN: 0268-1153; 1465-3648
• DOI: 10.1093/her/cyt052

AIDS clinical trials (ACTs) are critical to the development of new treatments for HIV infection. However, people of color living with HIV/AIDS are involved in ACTs at disproportionally low rates, with African-Americans experiencing the greatest under-representation. In this article, we describe the core elements and key characteristics of a highly efficacious multi-component peerdriven intervention (PDI) designed to increase rates of screening for and enrollment into ACTs among African-American and Latino/Hispanic individuals, by addressing the main complex, multi-level barriers they experience to ACTs. We discuss the process of developing the intervention, the theoretical models guiding its delivery format and content, and provide an overview of the intervention's components. We then use brief case studies to illustrate a number of key issues that may arise during intervention implementation. Finally, we describe lessons learned and provide recommendations for the PDI's uptake in clinical and clinical trials settings.