Research to Evaluate an Effective Community-level Intervention for Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

Study ID
STU 042011-073

Cancer Related
No

Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Study Sites

  • UT Southwestern-Other

Contact
Douglas Shehan
214-645-7309
douglas.shehan@utsouthwestern.edu

Principal Investigator
Anne Freeman

Summary

CONCISE SUMMARY OF PROJECT: The proposed study is designed to test the efficacy of a proven community level intervention adapted for a different community. The Black Mpowerment Project will be overseen by researchers at UCSF. While UCSF will directly coordinate the implementation of the intervention in Dallas, UT Southwestern and the University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston (UTHSC-H) have been subcontracted to conduct intervention evaluations. Year 1 of this research was conducted by UCSF and included the planning and development of the study. The pre-intervention and post-intervention evaluations conducted by UTHSC-H in Houston will provide the study control, while UT Southwestern will survey YBMSM in Dallas where the intervention will be implemented. The efficacy of the intervention will be assessed primarily through the use of surveys conducted with YBMSM before the intervention is fully running (pre-intervention) and after the intervention has been completed (post-intervention). Each of the data collection periods will last for approximately 6 months. In addition, in Year 2, UT Southwestern will conduct 30 cognitive interviews to validate survey language and identify potential venues for recruitment during the YBM Survey and two focus groups composed of six YBMSM to prepare for the quantitative survey. UT Southwestern will then conduct the “Young Black Men’s Survey” (YBM Survey) with a cross-section of approximately 333 YBMSM in Dallas. During Years 3 through 5, the intervention will be implemented and coordinated by UCSF. UT Southwestern will recruit another two interim cross-sections of YBMSM in Dallas (n=333 each interim wave) during the intervention, and a final cross-section (n=333) after the intervention is completed.

The YBM Survey domains include variables to examine demographics, sexual behavior disclosure, sexually transmitted disease history, community participation, psychosocial factors (self-esteem, empowerment, social support, enjoyment of safer sex, social norms about safer sex, self-efficacy for safer sex, depression, racial identity, locus of control, and preparation for racial bias), HIV testing history, sexual HIV risk assessment, substance use history, attitudes and beliefs (HIV-related belief system including treatment optimism and conspiracy beliefs), social diffusion (discussion of topics related to HIV-prevention among participant’s social networks), spirituality, and intervention exposure and participation.


The YBM Survey will be self-administered using small handheld computers. All questionnaires will be completed anonymously. Methods will be used that are similar to those that the CDC uses for National HIV Behavioral Surveillance, which have undergone several years of practice and scientific review. UT Southwestern researchers have been a part of National HIV Behavioral Surveillance and are experienced are in accessing YBMSM and other populations using similar research methods.


Total Number of Possible Participants:
Research Activity N
Focus Groups with YBMSM: Dallas (6 in each group) 12 or more
Cognitive Individual Interviews with YBMSM: Dallas 30
YBM Surveys: Dallas (n=333 respectively for pre, interim, and post intervention surveys) 1350
Projected screen failures (n=83 respectively for pre, interim, and post intervention surveys) 300
Total 1,692

Participant Eligibility

CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION OF SUBJECTS: The target population for this study is YBMSM living in Dallas who are: 1) 18-29 years old, 2) African-American/Black, 3) male, 4) English speaking, 5) report having sexual contact with another man in the previous 12 months, and 6) have the ability to provide informed consent.