Defeat HIV Con Ganas

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Specific Aims

Importance of topic

HIV is a serious disease because the virus attacks the body’s immune system. Eventually, the body will no longer be able to fight off infections and diseases. There is no effective cure that currently exists for HIV, but it can be controlled with antiretroviral therapy. The annual number of new HIV diagnoses has remained stable for the last few years in the United States but has increased among subgroups.

 

Theoretical Relevance

            The Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) will be used to explain how people regulate their behavior through control and reinforcement to achieve goal-directed behavior that can be maintained over time.The SCT consists of the reciprocal determinism between behavioral factors, environmental factors, and personal factors. The control group will only receive the educational components of the program while the experimental group will receive both educational components and social cognitive components.

 

Hypotheses to be examined

The experimental group will increase their knowledge of HIV and transmission by 35% as measured at posttest through a face to face interview (Q1-Q12). The experimental group will positively change their attitude on HIV medical care and healthcare provider by 15% as measured at posttest through a face to face interview (Q13- Q23). The experimental group will increase their behavior of adherence to antiretroviral therapy by 5% as measured at posttest through a face to face interview and self-reported data (Q24-26).

 

Description of population

            No one is immune to HIV, but there are different groups of people that are more vulnerable than others, specifically minorities such as Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) between the ages of 15-24. MSM is the population most affected by HIV and among those men, Hispanic/Latino have the second largest number of HIV diagnoses with its rates only increasing.

 

Design of experimental methodology

            The design of the program will be a classic experimental design and will include a randomized control and experimental group. I chose this design due to the randomization. It is important that all participants of the program have an equal chance into being placed into experimental group and receiving the intervention. The two groups will be as equivalent as possible due to cluster sampling.

 

Operationalization of Concepts

            One form of data collection used is face-to-face interview. This is used for the baseline pretest as well as the posttest. Another form of data collection will be from baseline, 3, 6, and 9 month follow ups through computer-assisted self-interviewing. The Pre/Post test consists of a variety of questions regarding knowledge, attitude, and behavior.

 

Formative Evaluation

            During Formative Evaluation, focus groups will be conducted with experts of the field to get feedback before the start of the program. Key figures of the community will be invited to participate in focus groups because they understand the community. Healthcare providers that work in clinics and hospitals that work closely with HIV patients will also be invited. They will provide insight and opinions from their professional backgrounds that will contribute to the efficiency and feasibility of the program. Others invited will include high school students, college students, and LGBTQ youth. 

 

Process Evaluation

            Recruitment methods and retention will be invested into more because the target population is harder to reach. Therefore, recruitment will include creating flyers and placing them in provider’s lobbies and waiting areas. Phone reminders have been correlated with increased attendance as the program is targeting youth. Incentives will be given out to participants after each group session. Aids will also be distributed during the program may alleviate some of these burdens for participants.

 

Timeline

            The duration of the program will be a total of 14 months.