Rapid HIV testing is a new technology that speeds receipt of HIV test results and might increase access to testing. Its use in emergency departments (EDs) has been demonstrated, but patient acceptance of rapid testing in the ED has not been optimal. It is likely the low acceptance is partially due to ED patients not realizing their personal risk of acquiring an HIV infection and therefore their need to learn their HIV status. Dr. Merchant proposes to: (1) develop a novel means of data collection to obtain HIV risk factor and testing histories from ED patients using a handheld, Tablet PC, audio computer-administered interviewer (ACASI); and (2) design an intervention using the ACASI to enhance ED patients' awareness of their personal risk of becoming HIV infected and encourage them to undergo rapid HIV testing in the ED. Dr. Merchant will conduct his study in three phases. In Phase I, he will determine the baseline acceptance proportion among patients at the Rhode Island Hospital ED through a randomized, prospective trial with 610 patients. In Phase II, he will develop and pilot test the questionnaire, messages, and intervention for Phase III. In Phase III, he will conduct a randomized, prospective, pilot study with 1,220 ED patients to evaluate the effectiveness of the ACASI-based intervention in regards to willingness to undergo rapid HIV testing, and to the utility and ED patient acceptance of obtaining HIV risk factor and testing histories using the ACASI. Dr. Merchant will continue his training to become an independent researcher in HIV and other infectious diseases preventive health concerns as they relate to emergency medicine. Concurrent with his planned research, Dr. Merchant will complete his doctoral degree in infectious diseases epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. The research from this proposal will become the basis of his thesis. He will be mentored by internationally-known experts in HIV research from biostatistics, epidemiology, and clinical medicine at both Brown University and Harvard University.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23AI060363-05
Application #
7391148
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BSPH (02))
Program Officer
Roe, Joanad'Arc C
Project Start
2004-07-01
Project End
2010-03-31
Budget Start
2008-04-01
Budget End
2010-03-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$136,296
Indirect Cost
Name
Rhode Island Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
075710996
City
Providence
State
RI
Country
United States
Zip Code
02903
Canders, Caleb P; Merchant, Roland C; Pleet, Katherine et al. (2013) Internet-initiated sexual assault among U.S. adolescents reported in newspapers, 1996-2007. J Child Sex Abus 22:987-99
Hill, Shawndra; Merchant, Raina; Ungar, Lyle (2013) LESSONS LEARNED ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH FROM ONLINE CROWD SURVEILLANCE. Big Data 1:160-167
Merchant, Roland C; Clark, Melissa A; Langan 4th, Thomas J et al. (2011) Can computer-based feedback improve emergency department patient uptake of rapid HIV screening? Ann Emerg Med 58:S114-9.e1-2
Merchant, Roland C; Freelove, Sarah M; Langan 4th, Thomas J et al. (2010) The relationship of reported HIV risk and history of HIV testing among emergency department patients. Postgrad Med 122:61-74
Lyons, Michael S; Lindsell, Christopher J; Haukoos, Jason S et al. (2009) Nomenclature and definitions for emergency department human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing: report from the 2007 conference of the National Emergency Department HIV Testing Consortium. Acad Emerg Med 16:168-77
Merchant, Roland C; Clark, Melissa A; Langan 4th, Thomas J et al. (2009) Effectiveness of increasing emergency department patients' self-perceived risk for being human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected through audio computer self-interview-based feedback about reported HIV risk behaviors. Acad Emerg Med 16:1143-55
Merchant, Roland C; Catanzaro, Bethany M (2009) HIV testing in US EDs, 1993-2004. Am J Emerg Med 27:868-74
Merchant, Roland C; Clark, Melissa A; Mayer, Kenneth H et al. (2009) Video as an effective method to deliver pretest information for rapid human immunodeficiency testing. Acad Emerg Med 16:124-35
Merchant, Roland C; Clark, Melissa A; Seage 3rd, George R et al. (2009) Emergency department patient perceptions and preferences on opt-in rapid HIV screening program components. AIDS Care 21:490-500
Merchant, Roland C; Catanzaro, Bethany M; Seage 3rd, George R et al. (2009) Demographic variations in HIV testing history among emergency department patients: implications for HIV screening in US emergency departments. J Med Screen 16:60-6

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