This Scientist Development Award application describes a comprehensive program of training and research in the field of AIDS prevention. The goal of these efforts is (a) to facilitate the PI's transition to AIDS prevention research; and (b) to develop and evaluate an AIDS prevention model for community-based health programs which serve urban women. The proposed training would enhance the PI's knowledge about: (a) HIV/AIDS (i.e., its prevalence, transmission, course, treatment); (b)AIDS prevention research, including theoretical, methodological, and practical aspects; and (c) the social and health needs of economically disadvantaged urban women. This training will be supervised by Jeffrey A. Kelly, Ph.D., and will take place at the Community Health Behavior Program (Medical College of Wisconsin), HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies (Columbia University), and Center for Health and Behavior (Syracuse University). The proposed research will examine two questions: (a) Will urban women who participate in an AIDS prevention program increase their knowledge, motivation, and assertion skills and decrease high risk sexual practices compared to women who participate in a health promotion (i.e., attention-control) intervention unrelated to AIDS? (b)Does the effectiveness of the AlDS-prevention program differ depending upon whether it is administered by mental health professionals or paraprofessional group leaders? Initial formative research will elicit information on AIDS relevant knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and social norms to inform the subsequent assessment and intervention protocol. Next, 150 women at high risk for HIV infection will be recruited from a health care program for low income, primarily minority, single mothers. A baseline assessment comprising a structured interview, self-report questionnaires, and behavioral role-plays will yield information on HIV risk knowledge, attitudes, social norms, and high risk behavior. Subjects will then be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (a) HIV prevention led by professionals; (b)HIV prevention led by paraprofessionals; or (c) health promotion led by paraprofessionals. Subjects will be re-assessed 3 and 6 months after the intervention. Meetings will occur at an inner-city community center to enhance the generalizability of the findings. It is hypothesized that participants in both HIV programs will increase their risk knowledge, motivation, and assertion skills and decrease high risk sexual practices compared to those receiving the control intervention. It is also expected that participants in the professionally-led HIV prevention program will benefit more than will those in the paraprofessionaIly-led group.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Scientist Development Award (K21)
Project #
5K21MH001101-02
Application #
2240506
Study Section
Psychobiological, Biological, and Neurosciences Subcommittee (MHAI)
Project Start
1993-08-01
Project End
1998-07-31
Budget Start
1994-08-01
Budget End
1995-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Syracuse University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Syracuse
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
13210
Weinhardt, L S; Carey, M P; Carey, K B (1998) HIV-risk behavior and the public health context of HIV/AIDS among women living with a severe and persistent mental illness. J Nerv Ment Dis 186:276-82
Forsyth, A D; Carey, M P (1998) Measuring self-efficacy in the context of HIV risk reduction: research challenges and recommendations. Health Psychol 17:559-68
Weinhardt, L S; Carey, M P; Carey, K B et al. (1998) Increasing assertiveness skills to reduce HIV risk among women living with a severe and persistent mental illness. J Consult Clin Psychol 66:680-4
Weinhardt, L S; Carey, M P; Maisto, S A et al. (1998) Reliability of the timeline follow-back sexual behavior interview. Ann Behav Med 20:25-30
McKinnon, K; Carey, M P; Cournos, F (1997) Research on HIV, AIDS, and severe mental illness: recommendations from the NIMH National Conference. Clin Psychol Rev 17:327-31
Forsyth, A D; Carey, M P; Fuqua, R W (1997) Evaluation of the validity of the condom use self-efficacy scale (CUSES) in young men using two behavioral simulations. Health Psychol 16:175-8
Carey, M P; Carey, K B; Kalichman, S C (1997) Risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among persons with severe mental illnesses. Clin Psychol Rev 17:271-91
Carey, M P; Maisto, S A; Kalichman, S C et al. (1997) Enhancing motivation to reduce the risk of HIV infection for economically disadvantaged urban women. J Consult Clin Psychol 65:531-41
Carey, M P; Cournos, F (1997) HIV and AIDS among the severely mentally ill: introduction to the special series. Clin Psychol Rev 17:241-5
Carey, M P; Carey, K B; Weinhardt, L S et al. (1997) Behavioral risk for HIV infection among adults with a severe and persistent mental illness: patterns and psychological antecedents. Community Ment Health J 33:133-42

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