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The study authors examined the efficacy of a peer-driven intervention to increase screening rates for AIDS clinical trials among African Americans and Hispanics with HIV/AIDS.
The intervention (six hours of structured sessions and the opportunity to educate three peers) was compared with a time-matched control arm using a randomized controlled design to examine efficacy. Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling (n=342; 43.9 percent female; 64.9 percent African- American; 26.6 percent Hispanic). Most participants (93.9 percent) completed intervention sessions, and 64.9 percent recruited or educated peers. Completion rate for baseline and post-baseline computer-assisted interviews was 94.4 percent. Intervention effects on screening were examined via a mixed model.
Compared to the control group, screening was much more likely in the peer-driven intervention (adjusted odds ratio=55.0; z=5.49, P<.001); 46.0 percent of intervention participants were screened compared with 1.6 percent of controls. The experience of recruiting and educating each peer also increased screening odds among those who themselves were peer-recruited and –educated (AOR=1.4; z=2.06, P<.05).
“Peer-driven intervention was highly efficacious in increasing AIDS clinical trial screening rates among African Americans and Hispanics living with HIV/AIDS,” the authors concluded.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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