(Revised) The overarching goal of this proposal is to provide support for the career development activities that will enable the candidate to become an independent investigator in the field of alcohol research, particularly in the area of detection and prevention of alcohol problems and their intersection with infectious diseases. Whereas alcohol problems and infectious diseases represent significant health problems for adolescents and young adults, a majority of youth do not receive recommended assessment and prevention services for these health issues.
The specific aims of the research proposal are 1) to identify the extent to which alcohol use behaviors and alcohol use disorders (AUD) are associated with acquisition of Infectious diseases; 2) to determine the extent to which alcohol use behavior and AUD interferes with timely utilization of diagnostic and treatment services for infectious diseases; and 3) to determine the effect of alcohol use behavior and AUD on utilization of health services. These issues will be examined through a cross-sectional study of 488 adolescents and young adults (age 15-24) who will be tested for infectious diseases, and will complete a detailed assessment of alcohol consumption behaviors, demographics, and health care utilization patterns. The findings will identify barriers to the timely receipt of assessment, prevention and treatment services for alcohol problems, and will provide targets for future interventions to improve delivery of these health services. The proposal also includes a career development plan to obtain additional knowledge, skills and experience in assessment and diagnosis of alcohol problems, an understanding of client characteristics that affect health service utilization, and health system organization characteristics that influence delivery of health services. The career development plan and supervised research experience will provide the candidate with the training necessary to become an independent clinical investigator in the area of alcohol research and infectious diseases within the health services delivery system.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23AA000303-02
Application #
6168174
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-FF (01))
Program Officer
Bryant, Kendall
Project Start
1999-09-28
Project End
2003-08-31
Budget Start
2000-09-01
Budget End
2001-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$151,408
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053785812
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Staras, Stephanie A S; Cook, Robert L; Clark, Duncan B (2009) Sexual partner characteristics and sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents and young adults. Sex Transm Dis 36:232-8
Cook, Robert L; Comer, Diane M; Wiesenfeld, Harold C et al. (2006) Alcohol and drug use and related disorders: An underrecognized health issue among adolescents and young adults attending sexually transmitted disease clinics. Sex Transm Dis 33:565-70
Cook, Robert L; Clark, Duncan B (2005) Is there an association between alcohol consumption and sexually transmitted diseases? A systematic review. Sex Transm Dis 32:156-64
Cook, Robert L; Chung, Tammy; Kelly, Thomas M et al. (2005) Alcohol screening in young persons attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic. Comparison of AUDIT, CRAFFT, and CAGE instruments. J Gen Intern Med 20:1-6
Cook, Robert L; May, Silvia; Harrison, Lee H et al. (2004) High prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in young women seeking HIV testing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sex Transm Dis 31:67-72
Barth, Karen R; Cook, Robert L; Downs, Julie S et al. (2002) Social stigma and negative consequences: factors that influence college students' decisions to seek testing for sexually transmitted infections. J Am Coll Health 50:153-9
Cook, Robert L; Pollock, Nancy K; Rao, Agam K et al. (2002) Increased prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 among adolescent women with alcohol use disorders. J Adolesc Health 30:169-74