title: An exploratory behavioral intervention trial to improve rates of screening for AIDS clinical trials among racial/ethnic minority and female persons living with HIV/AIDS.
abstract: Individuals from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds and women have not been proportionately represented in AIDS clinical trials (ACTs). There have been few intervention efforts to eliminate this health disparity. This paper reports on a brief behavioral intervention to increase rates of screening for ACTs in these groups. The study was exploratory and used a single-group pre/posttest design. A total of 580 persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) were recruited (39% female; 56% African-American, 32% Latino/Hispanic). The intervention was efficacious: 25% attended screening. We identified the primary junctures where PLHA are lost in the screening process. Both group intervention sessions and an individual contact were associated with screening. Findings provide preliminary support for the intervention's efficacy and the utility of combining group and individual intervention formats. Interventions of greater duration and intensity, and which address multiple levels of influence (e.g., social, structural), may be needed to increase screening rates further.
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR), National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI), 71 W 23 Street, New York, NY 10010, USA. gwadz@ndri.org
authors.forename: Marya Viorst
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Gwadz
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cylar
authors.forename: Noelle R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: Gricel N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Arredondo
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cleland
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marshak
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mildvan