Historical trauma and polysubstance use in Black young adults: The role of contemporary racism.

OBJECTIVES: The legacy of slavery renders Black individuals vulnerable to the harmful effects of historical trauma which may interact with contemporary racism-related experiences to increase substance use. We examined the associations between historical and contemporary racism-related experiences (i.e., historical loss thinking, major racial discrimination events, racial microaggressions, and internalized racism) and polysubstance use in a group of Black young adults. METHOD: Black young adults (N = 163; 60% female) aged 18-35 years (M = 25.7, SD = 3.27) completed surveys online. RESULTS: Historical loss thinking (b = 0.03, 95% CI [0.01, 0.05], p = .003), racial microaggressions (b = 0.03, 95% CI [0.02, 0.04], p < .001), major racial discrimination events (b = 0.42, 95% CI [0.30, 0.53], p < .001), and internalized racism (b = 0.49, 95% CI [0.33, 0.65], p < .001) were independently associated with past 12-month polysubstance use. Major racial discrimination events showed the largest association with polysubstance use (ß = 0.26, 95% CI [0.08, 0.45], p = .006). No significant interactions between historical loss thinking and contemporary racism-related experiences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest an association between substance use and historical and contemporary-related experiences among Black young adults. This may suggest that experiences with racism contextualized within historical and contemporary manifestations may impact risk for polysubstance use among Black young adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Feasibility and Acceptability of the Project Faith Influencing Transformation Intervention in Faith-Based Settings.

African Americans (AAs) are disproportionately burdened with diabetes and prediabetes. Predominately AA churches may be optimal settings for reaching AAs at greatest diabetes risk, along with related morbidities and mortalities. The current study used the RE-AIM framework to qualitatively examine the feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction with the Project Faith Influencing Transformation (FIT) intervention, a diabetes risk reduction intervention in AA churches. Participants were (N = 21) church and community members who also participated in the larger Project FIT intervention and were primarily female, with an average age of 60 years (SD = 11.1). Participants completed a brief survey and focus group discussion. Participants discussed intervention effectiveness in changing health behaviors and outcomes, with high rates of adoption, acceptability, and satisfaction across churches that conducted the intervention. Participants also discussed outreach to members of the broader community, the role of the pastor, and challenges to intervention implementation and maintenance-tailored strategies to improve intervention effectiveness are discussed. Given the significant diabetes disparities that exist for AAs, it is imperative to continue to investigate best practices for reaching communities served by churches with sustainable, relevant health programming. This study has the potential to inform more effective, tailored diabetes prevention interventions for high-risk AAs in faith-based settings.

Project harmony: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of psychotherapy and pharmacologic trials for comorbid posttraumatic stress, alcohol, and other drug use disorders.

We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analyses (NMA) of psychotherapy and pharmacologic treatments for individuals with co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol or other drug use disorder (AOD). A comprehensive search spanning 1995-2019 yielded a pool of 39 studies for systematic review, including 24 randomized controlled trials for the NMA. Study interventions were grouped by target of treatment (PTSD + AOD, PTSD-only, and AOD-only) and approach (psychotherapy or medication). Standardized mean differences (SMD) from the NMA yielded evidence that at the end of treatment, integrated, trauma-focused therapy for PTSD + AOD was more effective at reducing PTSD symptoms than integrated, non-trauma-focused therapy (SMD = -0.30), AOD-focused psychotherapy (SMD = -0.29), and other control psychotherapies (SMD = -0.43). End-of-treatment alcohol use severity was less for AOD medication compared to placebo medication (SMD = -0.36) and trauma-focused therapy for PTSD + placebo medication (SMD = -0.67), and less for trauma-focused psychotherapy + AOD medication compared to PTSD medication (SMD = -0.53), placebo medication (SMD = -0.50), and trauma-focused psychotherapy + placebo medication (SMD = -0.81). Key limitations include the small number of studies in the NMA for pharmacologic treatments and the lack of demographic diversity apparent in the existing literature. Findings suggest room for new studies that can address limitations in study sample composition, sample sizes, retention, and apply new techniques for conducting comparative effectiveness in PTSD + AOD treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

"Black Women Don't Always Put Our Healthcare First": Facilitators and Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening and Perceptions of Human Papillomavirus Self-Testing Among Church-Affiliated African American Women.

Background: African American women are at greater risk for cervical cancer incidence and mortality than White women. Up to 90% of cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPVs) infections. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) co-developed HPV self-test kits to increase access to screening, which may be critical for underserved populations. Purpose/Research Design: This mixed methods study used the Theory of Planned Behavior to examine attitudes, barriers, facilitators, and intentions related to receipt of cervical cancer screening and perceptions of HPV self-testing among church-affiliated African American women. Study Sample/Data Collection: Participants (N = 35) aged 25-53 participated in focus groups and completed a survey. Results: Seventy-four percent of participants reported receipt of cervical cancer screening in the past 3 years. Healthcare providers and the church were supportive referents of screening. Past trauma and prioritizing children's healthcare needs were screening barriers. Concerns about HPV self-testing included proper test administration and result accuracy. Conclusions: Strategies to mitigate these concerns (e.g., delivering HPV self-test kits to the health department) are discussed.

Alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine use have distinct associations with COVID-19 pandemic-related experiences: An exploratory Bayesian network analysis across two timepoints.

BACKGROUND: Substance use trends during the COVID-19 pandemic have been extensively documented. However, relatively less is known about the associations between pandemic-related experiences and substance use. METHOD: In July 2020 and January 2021, a broad U.S. community sample (N = 1123) completed online assessments of past month alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine use and the 92-item Epidemic-Pandemic Impacts Inventory, a multidimensional measure of pandemic-related experiences. We examined links between substance use frequency, and pandemic impact on emotional, physical, economic, and other key domains, using Bayesian Gaussian graphical networks in which edges represent significant associations between variables (referred to as nodes). Bayesian network comparison approaches were used to assess the evidence of stability (or change) in associations between the two timepoints. RESULTS: After controlling for all other nodes in the network, multiple significant edges connecting substance use nodes and pandemic-experience nodes were observed across both time points, including positive- (r range 0.07-0.23) and negative-associations (r range -0.25 to -0.11). Alcohol was positively associated with social and emotional pandemic impacts and negatively associated with economic impacts. Nicotine was positively associated with economic impact and negatively associated with social impact. Cannabis was positively associated with emotional impact. Network comparison suggested these associations were stable across the two timepoints. CONCLUSION: Alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use had unique associations to a few specific domains among a broad range of pandemic-related experiences. Given the cross-sectional nature of these analyses with observational data, further investigation is needed to identify potential causal links.

Attitudes about Cigarette Smoking, Perceived Consequences of Smoking, and Seeking Assistance with Cessation among Black and White Cigarette Smokers: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Research has identified significant racial differences in cigarette smoking behavior, associated disease risk, likelihood of cessation, and mortality from smoking-related diseases. The current study assessed, via qualitative narrative analysis, racial differences in participants' motivations for smoking, perceived consequences of smoking, and how participants deal with cravings/withdrawal, as well as thoughts and feelings about quitting, seeking assistance with quitting, and the importance of social support in quitting. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 Black and 11 White cigarette smokers. Data were analyzed using the Thematic Networks Analysis process, which entailed coding the data and constructing thematic networks by identifying basic and organizing themes. Results: While there were no descriptive racial differences identified in participants' motivation for smoking or perceived consequences of smoking, differences existed between Blacks and Whites in terms of approaches in dealing with smoking cravings and withdrawal, perceived self-efficacy in controlling cravings, preferred methods of learning about and receiving smoking cessation assistance, and overall preference for receiving cessation-related support. Conclusions: Further investigation is needed into racial differences in methods to deal with cigarette cravings and withdrawal, preferences for receiving cessation information, and social support for cessation. This research will further develop our understanding of and ability to address factors underlying racial disparities in smoking behavior and cessation, as well as inform the development of future smoking cessation interventions.

Mental health attitudes, norms, beliefs, and experiences with care among young Black men: A theory of planned behavior assessment.

OBJECTIVE: Young Black/African American men (YBM) are at greater risk for trauma and related mental health concerns compared to young non-Hispanic White men but are less likely to receive mental health care when needed. The current study used a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)-guided framework to qualitatively explore beliefs, norms, and intentions related to seeking mental health screening and linkage to care (LTC) among YBM exposed to trauma. METHOD: Participants (N = 55, Mage = 23 years) were YBM aged 18-30 recruited from urban community settings in Kansas City, MO, between October 2018 and April 2019 for participation in focus groups. RESULTS: Participants discussed lived experiences with trauma and mental health care, plus salient behavioral beliefs-both positive and negative. Key normative referents were significant others and family members, and participants endorsed greater motivation to seek care with their support. Control beliefs ranged from individual and interpersonal facilitators and barriers to more systemic factors (e.g., availability of providers, cost, lack of access, disparities in incarceration). CONCLUSIONS: Tailored interventions are needed to promote engagement in mental health services among YBM, with strategies that recognize cultural contexts and ongoing needs for general well-being. Recommendations for providers and systems are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Patient- and therapist-rated alliance predict improvements in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and substance use in integrated treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Concurrent Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorders Using Prolonged Exposure (i.e., COPE) is an efficacious, integrated, psychotherapy that attends to PTSD and substance use disorders simultaneously. No study has examined how therapeutic alliance functions during the provision of COPE and how this compares to non-integrated treatments, such as relapse prevention (RP) for substance use disorders. Understanding the role of alliance in COPE versus RP could inform treatment refinement and ways to enhance treatment outcomes. METHODS: Participants (N = 55 veterans) were randomized to 12, individual, weekly sessions of COPE or RP in a randomized clinical trial. Piecewise linear mixed effect models examined how mid-treatment (1) patient-rated alliance, (2) therapist-rated alliance, and (3) the convergence between patient- and therapist-rated alliance as measured by a difference score predicted reductions in PTSD symptoms and substance use across treatment and follow-up periods. RESULTS: Both patient- and therapist-rated alliance predicted reductions in PTSD symptoms in COPE. Higher patient-rated alliance predicted lower percent days using substances in RP. Difference score models showed higher patient-rated alliance relative to therapist-rated alliance scores predicted symptom reductions in COPE whereas higher therapist-rated alliance scores relative to patient-rated alliance scores predicted symptom reductions in RP. DISCUSSION: Preliminary findings show a unique relationship between the rater of the alliance and treatment modalities. Patient-rated alliance may be important in trauma-focused, integrated treatments whereas therapist-rated alliance may be more important in skills-focused, substance use interventions.

Posttraumatic stress disorder symptom trajectories in a 16-month COVID-19 pandemic period.

COVID-19 pandemic presents an unheralded opportunity to better understand trajectories of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms across a prolonged period of social disruption and stress. We tracked PTSD symptoms among trauma-exposed individuals in the United States and sought to identify population-based variability in PTSD symptom trajectories and understand what, if any, early pandemic experiences predicted membership in one trajectory versus others. As part of a longitudinal study of U.S. residents during the pandemic, participants who reported at least one potentially traumatic experience in their lifetime (N = 1,206) at Wave 1 (April 2020) were included in the current study. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the PCL-5 at four time points extending to July 2021. Latent growth mixture modeling was used to identify heterogeneous symptom trajectories. Trajectory membership was regressed on experiences from the early stage of the pandemic as measured using the Epidemic-Pandemic Impacts Inventory in a model that controlled for variables with documented associations to PTSD trajectories, including age, sex, income, and trauma history. Four trajectories were identified, categorized as resilient (73.0%), recurring (13.3%), recovering (8.3%), and chronic (5.5%). Emotional and physical health problems and positive changes associated with the early phase of the pandemic were each significant predictors of trajectory membership over and above all other variables in the model. Predictors primarily differentiated the resilient trajectory from each of the other three trajectories. Distinct PTSD symptom trajectories during the COVID-19 pandemic suggest a need for targeted efforts to help individuals at most risk for ongoing distress.

Religiosity and Engagement in HIV Care Among African American People Living with HIV.

HIV continues to disproportionately impact Black/African Americans. New and innovative strategies are needed to increase and enhance engagement in HIV care. The Black/African American church is a powerful institution with the potential to enhance HIV care among congregants. This study examines perceptions on incorporating religiosity into engagement in HIV care for African Americans living with HIV among Black/African Americans persons living with HIV, church leaders and members, and HIV health and service providers. Findings indicated Black/African Americans living with HIV would be willing to engage in religiously tailored, joint church-health initiatives to increase engagement in care. Church leaders and members and HIV health and service providers also reported a willingness to provide religiously tailored services, and that providing these services would be both acceptable and feasible for implementation. These findings should be considered in future research designed to enhance engagement in HIV care for Black/African Americans living with HIV.

Recruitment of Young Black Men into Trauma and Mental Health Services Research: Recommendations and Lessons Learned.

Young Black/African American men are more likely to experience repeated trauma that escalates throughout young adulthood, compared to young White men. Exposure to trauma has impacts on mental health outcomes, but young Black men face substantial barriers to mental health care. In order to begin to address these disparities, it is imperative to increase understanding of the needs, preferences, and priorities of young Black men for mental health care services following trauma. Yet, young Black men are often underrepresented in mental health services research. The purpose of the current study was to describe strategies for recruitment of young Black men with previous trauma exposure from broad urban community settings in Kansas City, Missouri, for participation in a qualitative study exploring beliefs, attitudes, and norms regarding mental health care. A total of 70 young Black/African American men aged 18-30 completed the initial recruitment process, and 55 of these men were consented as participants who completed the study. The majority of participants were recruited from barbershops (n = 21), followed by community-wide events (n = 11) and referrals (n = 11). Few participants were recruited from faith-based settings. Strategies for facilitation of study recruitment and focus group attendance are discussed. These practices may contribute to development of mental health interventions that are relevant, feasible, and sustainable, as well as restoring and advancing research relationships with racial/ethnic minority populations and contributing to racial equity.

Community needs and recommendations for multilevel mental health interventions among young Black men with previous trauma exposure.

OBJECTIVE: To report on multilevel strategies for addressing community mental health disparities among young Black/African American men, who are at increased risk for trauma exposure yet have a lower likelihood of receiving mental health care compared to other young adults. METHOD: This was a secondary data analysis from a larger mixed-methods study that was conducted in two phases, using an exploratory sequential design. Participants in Phase 1 were 55 Black men aged 18-30 years old (M = 22.55, SD = 3.9), who had experienced one or more lifetime traumatic events. Relevant for the present study, participants completed focus groups that elicited community needs and recommended strategies for promoting community mental health. The social-ecological model (including individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy levels) was used to guide interpretation of these qualitative findings. RESULTS: Focus groups recommended intervention strategies from individual/interpersonal levels (e.g., educational resources, fostering social support) to organizational and community approaches (e.g., resource fairs; tools for schools, churches, and broader community settings) and policy changes (e.g., increased funding to improve access). CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative findings have potential to provide the foundation for culturally relevant interventions to improve access to mental health care and engagement in services. It is imperative that researchers partner with communities to address these disparities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Predictors of therapeutic alliance, treatment feedback, and clinical outcomes among African American women in treatment for co-occurring PTSD and SUD.

INTRODUCTION: Black women are at heightened risk for trauma exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders (SUDs), compared to White women and the general population. However, disparities in treatment engagement and retention persist, particularly for Black women with co-occurring PTSD+SUD. Although therapeutic alliance is an important predictor and mediator of treatment retention and outcomes, we know little about predictors of alliance and the mediating role of alliance for PTSD+SUD outcomes among Black women. METHODS: This study utilized data previously collected for the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) Women and Trauma Study. Participants were 88 Black/African American women (Mage = 41.90, SD = 7.72) participating in a clinical trial comparing Seeking Safety (a cognitive-behavioral intervention for PTSD+SUD) to Women's Health Education (control). This study includes participants from both arms. Measures included the Helping Alliance Questionnaire, Addiction Severity Index-Lite, and Clinician Administered PTSD Scale. Women in the intervention arm also completed the Seeking Safety Feedback Questionnaire. RESULTS: Stepwise, hierarchical linear regressions indicated that years of education and previous alcohol/drug treatment attempts significantly predicted early alliance in the second week of therapy (ß = 0.411, p = .021 and ß = 0.383, p = .011, respectively), but not late alliance in the last week of therapy (ps > .794). Greater education and more treatment attempts were associated with higher early alliance. Alliance did not mediate relationships between these significant predictors and treatment outcomes (e.g., attendance, post-treatment PTSD and SUD symptoms) or treatment feedback in the Seeking Safety group. CONCLUSIONS: Education and prior treatment attempts predicted early alliance among Black/African American women in PTSD+SUD group treatment, and higher education level was associated with poorer Seeking Safety feedback topic ratings. Educational level and treatment history should be considered during alliance building in therapeutic interventions with Black women. Clinicians may consider the integration of pre-treatment alliance-building strategies with Black female patients who have lower levels of education. This study provides insight into the relative impact of several important factors that influence early alliance among Black women with co-occurring PTSD+SUD.

Conceptualizing the COVID-19, Opioid Use, and Racism Syndemic and Its Associations With Traumatic Stress.

Individually, the COVID-19 pandemic and opioid epidemic have each been responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths. Systemic racism, including public perceptions about people who use opioids, inadequate substance abuse prevention and treatment efforts, heightened risks for COVID-19 exposure, and inadequate access to testing and health care, has contributed to the ongoing disparities underlying these health crises. Thus, the authors propose an integrative framework for conceptualizing the COVID-19, opioid use, and racism (COR) syndemic, with traumatic stress as a critical underpinning of this model. Action is needed to address trauma and the COR syndemic. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.

Social and clinical determinants of physical activity in prostate cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: Physical activity is important for enhancing quality of life and cancer control among prostate cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to characterize adherence to physical activity guidelines among African American and white prostate cancer survivors based on social and clinical determinants and psychosocial factors. METHODS: Observational study of meeting guidelines for moderate intensity physical activity in a retrospective cohort of African American and white prostate cancer survivors (n = 89). RESULTS: Thirty-four percent of survivors met the recommended guidelines for moderate intensity physical activity. There were no racial differences in physical activity between African American and white prostate cancer survivors; however, the likelihood of meeting guidelines was associated significantly with stage of disease, self-rated health, and perceptions of stress. Survivors who had stage pT2c or higher disease had a significantly reduced likelihood of meeting recommended guidelines for physical activity (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.08, 0.86, p = 0.03). The likelihood of meeting guidelines was also reduced among survivors who rated their health as being the same or worse than before they were diagnosed with prostate cancer (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.11, 0.96, p = 0.04). As perceived stress increased, the likelihood of being physically active according to guidelines also decreased (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.26, 0.89, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The results of this study underscore the need to develop, implement, and evaluate strategies to enhance physical activity among prostate cancer survivors, regardless of their racial background. Complementary and alternative strategies for physical activity may be one strategy for enhancing activity levels and managing stress among prostate cancer survivors.

Financial toxicity and strain among men receiving prostate cancer care in an equal access healthcare system.

PURPOSE: To examine financial toxicity and strain among men in an equal access healthcare system based on social determinants and clinical characteristics. METHODS: Observational study among men receiving prostate cancer care (n = 49) at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility. Financial hardship included overall financial strain and financial toxicity due to healthcare costs. Financial strain was measured with one item asking how much money they have leftover at the end of the month. Financial toxicity was measured with the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) scale. RESULTS: Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity scores among participants indicated moderate levels of financial toxicity (M = 24.4, SD = 9.9). For financial strain, 36% of participants reported that they did not have enough money left over at the end of the month. There were no racial or clinically related differences in financial toxicity, but race and income level had significant associations with financial strain. CONCLUSION: Financial toxicity and strain should be measured among patients in an equal access healthcare system. Findings suggest that social determinants may be important to assess, to identify patients who may be most likely to experience financial hardship in the context of obtaining cancer care and implement efforts to mitigate the burden for those patients.

"We Are Our Own Counselor": Resilience, Risk Behaviors, and Mental Health Service Utilization among Young African American Men.

Despite risk for trauma, subsequent mental health concerns, and poor health outcomes, young Black/African American men (YBM) are less likely to receive mental health services than other racial/ethnic groups. Despite the growing literature on resilience, there is less information on relationships between resilience, risk behaviors, and use of mental health services. This study sought to examine resilience, trauma-related risk behaviors, and receipt of mental health services among a sample of YBM who experienced trauma. Focus groups and a brief survey were conducted with YBM (N = 55) who had been exposed to at least one traumatic event (e.g., witnessing violence, experienced serious injury or illness) and were recruited from urban community settings (e.g., colleges/universities, barbershops, churches). Participants were an average age of 23 years (SD = 3.9; range 18-30) and experienced an average of 2 to 3 traumatic events (SD = 2.2). Trauma exposure was a significant predictor of risk factors (ß = .513, p < .01). However, resilience did not significantly moderate this relationship. Resilience also did not predict receipt of mental health services. Culturally relevant qualitative themes found to be related to resilience included maintaining resilience autonomously, preferred coping methods (e.g., friends, music), and habituating to adversity. This study has potential to inform the development of culturally tailored, relevant interventions to promote engagement in mental health services among YBM who've experienced trauma.

A Multilevel Diabetes and CVD Risk Reduction Intervention in African American Churches: Project Faith Influencing Transformation (FIT) Feasibility and Outcomes.

Wide-reaching health promotion interventions are needed in influential, accessible community settings to address African American (AA) diabetes and CVD disparities. Most AAs are overweight/obese, which is a primary clinical risk factor for diabetes/CVD. Using a faith-community-engaged approach, this study examined feasibility and outcomes of Project Faith Influencing Transformation (FIT), a diabetes/CVD screening, prevention, and linkage to care pilot intervention to increase weight loss in AA church-populations at 8 months. Six churches were matched and randomized to multilevel FIT intervention or standard education control arms. Key multilevel religiously tailored FIT intervention components included: (a) individual self-help materials (e.g., risk checklists, pledge cards); (b) YMCA-facilitated weekly group Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) weight loss classes; (c) church service activities (e.g., sermons, responsive readings); and (d) church-community text/voice messages to promote healthy eating and physical activity. Health screenings (e.g., weight, blood pressure, blood glucose) were held during church services to identify participants with diabetes/CVD risks and refer them to their church's DPP class and linkage to care services. Participants (N = 352 church members and community members using churches' outreach ministries) were primarily female (67%) and overweight/obese (87%). Overall, FIT intervention participants were significantly more likely to achieve a > 5 lb weight loss (OR = 1.6; CI = 1.24, 2.01) than controls. Odds of intervention FIT-DPP participants achieving a > 5 lb weight loss were 3.6 times more than controls (p < .07). Exposure to sermons, text/email messages, brochures, commitment cards, and posters was significantly related to > 5 lb. weight loss. AA churches can feasibly assist in increasing reach and impact of diabetes/CVD risk reduction interventions with intensive weight loss components among at risk AA church-populations.

HIV Risk and Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Physician-Advised HIV Testing: What Factors Are Overlooked in African American Populations?

HIV is diagnosed at eight times the rate in African Americans (AAs) compared to whites. One-third of AAs have never been tested for HIV. Studies indicate low rates of HIV testing in healthcare settings, so understanding missed opportunities for HIV testing can inform prevention efforts in these settings. Our study examined predictors of self-reported physician-advised HIV testing using baseline survey data (N = 1500) from Taking It to the Pews (TIPS), a church-basedHIV/STD testing and education intervention. One-third (33%) of participants reported that their physician ever suggested an HIV test. Results indicated that participants who identified as homosexual/bisexual, received Medicaid or were uninsured, and/or had previously diagnosed STDs were more likely to report physician-advised HIV testing. AA churches provide a unique opportunity to increase the reach of HIV testing and may be well-positioned to equip their church and community members with information on HIV risk and strategies to advocate for physician-advised routine HIV testing in medical settings.

Feasibility and Outcomes of an HIV Testing Intervention in African American Churches.

The updated National HIV/AIDS Strategy recommends widespread HIV education and testing and calls the faith community to assist in these efforts. Yet, limited information exist on church-based HIV testing interventions. This study examined feasibility and assessed HIV testing outcomes of Taking It to the Pews (TIPS), a multilevel HIV education and testing intervention. Four African American churches were matched and randomized to TIPS or a standard-information control arm. Intervention churches delivered the religiously-tailored TIPS Tool Kit, which included educational materials to individuals and ministry groups; pastoral activities (e.g., sermons preached, receipt of HIV testing role-modeled), responsive readings, and church bulletin inserts in church services; and HIV testing during church services and church outreach events. All churches delivered 2-3 tools/month and coordinated 3 HIV testing events. At 12 months, significant increases in receipt of HIV testing (59% vs. 42%, p = 0.008), and particularly church-based testing (54% vs. 15%, p < 0.001), relative to controls were found. TIPS has great potential to increase reach, feasibility, and impact of HIV testing in African American churches.