Racial-ethnic disparities across substance use disorder treatment settings: Sources of treatment insurance, socioeconomic correlates and clinical features.

Aim: Contrary to expectations, studies of racial-ethnic disparities in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment frequently uncover minority-majority parity in access and utilization of services. What accounts for the anomaly? To answer the question, this study explores racial-ethnic differences in the odds of utilization of SUD treatment in varied settings (e.g., the criminal justice system, private doctor's office, etc.), adjusting for sources of treatment insurance, socioeconomic correlates of treatment (e.g., employment, income, education), as well as clients' clinical features (e.g., type of substance abuse/dependence, co-morbidities, health status). Methods: Data were compiled from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) dataset, 2002-2014. The sample consisted of respondents with a past year diagnosis of a substance use disorder, who also reported having received treatment (n = 6,207). Data were pooled to maximize subgroup analyses. Weight- and design- adjusted logistic regressions were use to analyze factors predicting SUD treatment source. Results: Blacks were more likely than Whites to receive treatment through the criminal justice system and Whites more likely than Blacks and Latinx to receive treatment at a doctor's office. Blacks were also more likely than Whites to receive treatment through inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation, before adjustments but not afterwards. Discussion: In this study we show that even after adjusting for mechanisms expected to shape pathways from race-ethnicity to SUD treatment sites, significant racial-ethnic disparities persist. This fills an important gap in the literature in that disparities research has not explicitly modeled racial-ethnic variation across the full range of SUD treatment sites.

Delivering a "dose of hope": a faith-based program to increase older african americans' participation in clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Underrepresentation of older-age racial and ethnic minorities in clinical research is a significant barrier to health in the United States, as it impedes medical research advancement of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to develop and test the feasibility of a community-developed faith-based intervention and evaluate its potential to increase the number of older African Americans in clinical research. METHODS: Using a cluster-randomized design, we worked with six matched churches to enroll at least 210 persons. We provided those in the intervention group churches with three educational sessions on the role of clinical trials in addressing health disparity topics, and those in the comparison group completed surveys at the same timepoints. All persons enrolled in the study received ongoing information via newsletters and direct outreach on an array of clinical studies seeking participants. We evaluated the short-, mid-, and longer-term effects of the interventional program on clinical trial-related outcomes (ie, screening and enrollment). RESULTS: From 2012 to 2013, we enrolled a balanced cohort of 221 persons in the program. At a 3-month follow-up, mean intention to seek information about clinical trials was higher than baseline in both treatment (mu=7.5/10; sigma=3.1) and control arms (mu=6.6/10; sigma=3.3), with the difference more pronounced in the treatment arm. The program demonstrated strong retention at 3-month (95.4%, 211/221) and 6-month timepoints (94.1%, 208/221). CONCLUSIONS: The "Dose of Hope" program addressed an unmet need to reach an often overlooked audience of older African Americans who are members of churches and stimulate their interest in clinical trial participation. The program demonstrated its appeal in the delivery of effective messages and information about health disparities, and the role of clinical research in addressing these challenges.

An Integrated Service Delivery Model to Identify Persons Living with HIV and to Provide Linkage to HIV Treatment and Care in Prioritized Neighborhoods: A Geotargeted, Program Outcome Study.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated that high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence (2.1%) rates exist in "high-risk areas" of US cities that are comparable to rates in developing nations. Community-based interventions (CBIs) have demonstrated potential for improving HIV testing in these areas, thereby facilitating early entry and engagement in the HIV continuum of care. By encouraging neighborhood-based community participation through an organized community coalition, Project LINK sought to demonstrate the potential of the CBI concept to improve widespread HIV testing and referral in an area characterized by high poverty and HIV prevalence with few existing HIV-related services. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the influence of Project LINK to improve linkage-to-care and HIV engagement among residents of its target neighborhoods. METHODS: Using a venue-based sampling strategy, survey participants were selected from among all adult participants aged 18 years or more at Project LINK community events (n=547). We explored multilevel factors influencing continuum-of-care outcomes (linkage to HIV testing and CBI network referral) through combined geospatial-survey analyses utilizing hierarchical linear model methodologies and random-intercept models that adjusted for baseline effect differences among zip codes. The study specifically examined participant CBI utilization and engagement in relation to individual and psychosocial factors, as well as neighborhood characteristics including the availability of HIV testing services, and the extent of local prevention, education, and clinical support services. RESULTS: Study participants indicated strong mean intention to test for HIV using CBI agencies (mean 8.66 on 10-point scale [SD 2.51]) and to facilitate referrals to the program (mean 8.81 on 10-point scale [SD 1.86]). Individual-level effects were consistent across simple multiple regression and random-effects models, as well as multilevel models. Participants with lower income expressed greater intentions to obtain HIV tests through LINK (P<.01 across models). HIV testing and CBI referral intention were associated with neighborhood-level factors, including reduced availability of support services (testing P<.001), greater proportion of black/African Americans (testing and referral P<.001), and reduced socioeconomic capital (testing P=.017 and referral P<.001). Across models, participants expressing positive attitudes toward the CBI exhibited greater likelihood of engaging in routine HIV testing (P<.01) and referring others to HIV care (P<.01). Transgender individuals indicated greater intent to refer others to the CBI (P<.05). These outcomes were broadly influenced by distal community-level factors including availability of neighborhood HIV support organizations, population composition socioeconomic status, and high HIV prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Project LINK demonstrated its potential as a geotargeted CBI by evidencing greater individual intention to engage in HIV testing, care, and personal referrals to its coalition partner organizations. This study highlights important socioecological effects of US-based CBIs to improve HIV testing and initiate acceptable mechanisms for prompt referral to care among a vulnerable population.

A spatial analysis of community disadvantage and access to healthcare services in the U.S.

Ongoing socioeconomic and racial and ethnic gaps in access to healthcare make it vital to examine the relationship between characteristics of communities and their impact on the availability of healthcare services. This study investigates how community-based resource constraints influence the provision of healthcare services in the United States. Drawing on several theoretical frameworks including research in the spatial distribution of healthcare, we compile data on 3141 U.S. counties in order to investigate the argument that gaps in the provision of substance abuse treatment are a function of resource constraints experienced by disadvantaged communities. Our principal aim is to demonstrate that socioeconomic privation, racial and ethnic isolation and limited healthcare infrastructure constrain the provision of substance abuse treatment services. Since prior research shows spatial clustering of socioeconomic privation, racial and ethnic isolation, and healthcare resources, we explicitly model the spatial dimensions of community-based resource disadvantage. Central findings support our chief expectations: counties with greater socioeconomic privation and diminished healthcare infrastructure experienced limited access to substance abuse treatment. Moreover, treatment clusters themselves were significantly related to socioeconomic privation and diminished healthcare infrastructure. Counties with a higher proportion of racial and ethnic minority members, however, did not experience less access to substance abuse treatment, with one exception, although post hoc analyses showed poverty had a moderating effect on race and ethnicity. Study limitations and implications for the organization of treatment resources are discussed.

Community context and healthcare quality: the impact of community resources on licensing and accreditation of substance abuse treatment agencies.

This study examines variation in healthcare quality among substance abuse treatment agencies. Using an organizations framework, the authors predict that resource advantages benefit certain types of healthcare organizations, especially those located in affluent communities. As a result, levels of licensing and accreditation of substance abuse treatment agencies will differ across United States counties. The authors model these resources at both the organizational and community levels in an effort to understand the variability of licensing and accreditation between agencies and their local contexts. In multivariate models, the findings confirm that organizational characteristics such as private ownership (compared to public ownership), managed care contracts, inpatient and residential programs (compared to outpatient settings), as well as socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and healthcare system advantage promote higher levels of licensing and accreditation. Public ownership and outpatient settings, as well as socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and healthcare system disadvantage, are associated with lower levels of licensing and accreditation.

Socioecological influences on community involvement in HIV vaccine research.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated socioecological factors influencing HIV vaccine research participation among communities living in geographic areas with high HIV prevalence and high poverty rates. METHODS: We surveyed a sample of 453 adults ≤18 years from areas of high poverty and high HIV prevalence in metro Atlanta and differentiated the effects of individual-, social/organizational-, and community-level characteristics on participation in HIV vaccine research via multilevel modeling techniques that incorporated questionnaire, program, and census data. RESULTS: Models that adjusted for both individual-level covariates (such as race, gender, attitudes, and beliefs concerning HIV research), social/organizational- and community-level factors such as local HIV prevalence rates, revealed that the extent of HIV prevention-related programs and services in census tracts contributed to individuals' likelihood of participation in an HIV vaccine study. Additionally, neighborhood-based organizations offering HIV medical and treatment programs, support groups, and services (e.g., food, shelter, and clothing) encourage greater HIV vaccine research participation. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the hypothesis that community-level factors facilitate participation in HIV vaccine research independent of both individual- and social/organizational-level factors.

An extended model of reasoned action to understand the influence of individual- and network-level factors on African Americans' participation in HIV vaccine research.

In the United States, the number and proportion of HIV/AIDS cases among black/African Americans continue to highlight the need for new biomedical prevention interventions, including an HIV vaccine, microbicide, or new antiretroviral (ARV) prevention strategies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to complement existing condom usage, harm reduction methods, and behavioral change strategies to stem the HIV epidemic. Although black/African Americans are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS, their participation in HIV clinical research continues to have unique challenges. We theorize that interaction among multilevel factors creates ideal alignment for minority participation in HIV clinical studies. Thus, we initially set out to test an extended model of reasoned action with 362 participants to understand the interplay of sociopsychological and network-level considerations influencing minority participation in HIV prevention research efforts. In this study, we linked the intrapersonal dimensions of attitudes, beliefs, and normative concerns to community-level components, appraisal of involvement with the clinical research organization, an entity which operates within a networked structure of community partner agencies, and identification with coalition advocacy aims. Various participatory outcomes were explored including involvement in future HIV vaccine community functions, participation in community promotion of HIV vaccine research, and community mobilization. Three-stage least squares estimates indicated similar findings across three models. Significant effects demonstrate the importance of positive attitudes toward HIV vaccine research, favorable health research beliefs, perceived social support for participation, HIV/AIDS issue engagement, and perceived relevance of the clinical research site's mission and values. Identification of these nuanced pathway effects provides implications for tailored community program development.

Factors influencing HIV vaccine community engagement in the urban South.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine personal characteristics, socio-environmental conditions, and motivational factors that potentially influence HIV vaccine research community engagement. Specifically, the study identified predictive aspects that may aid in future community program development on HIV vaccine issues. A cross-sectional survey consisting of evaluative measures, demographics, social interaction, and health information-seeking behaviors was conducted. Participants were a diverse group of 452 adults (>or=18 years) at HIV vaccine awareness-building and community education gatherings in Atlanta. The sample included large numbers of women (n=251) and minorities (n=224). In multivariate analysis, the overall logistic regression model was significant, with a resulting coefficient of determination (Nagelkerke R(2)) of .505. Highly significant factors included an excellent activity/event rating (log odds beta = 4.521, P< .001), White race (beta= -.835, P= .005), greater educational attainment (beta= .725, P= .011), travel distance (beta = 1.186, P= .002), and excellent perception of the study site (beta=2.131, P< .001). Subgroup analyses by gender and race revealed similar findings. These data demonstrate the importance of building a favorable study site image and gaining familiarity in the community to aid in the promotion of HIV vaccine research on an ongoing basis.

Promoting HIV Vaccine Research in African American Communities: Does the Theory of Reasoned Action Explain Potential Outcomes of Involvement?

The HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to challenge the African American community with disproportionate rates of infection, particularly among young women ages 25 to 34 years. Development of a preventive HIV vaccine may bring a substantial turning point in this health crisis. Engagement of the African American community is necessary to improve awareness of the effort and favorably influence attitudes and referent norms. The Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) may be a useful framework for exploration of community engagement outcomes including future attendance, community mobilization, and study participation. Within the context of HIV vaccine outreach, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in early 2007 with 175 African-American adults (>/= 18 years). Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were performed and the findings support the potential of the model in understanding behavioral intentions toward HIV vaccine research.