Podcasting HIV Prevention Within African American Communities

Given the continued impact of HIV among African Americans, there is still an urgent need to expand prevention efforts and HIV testing in African American communities. Heterosexual individuals may acquire and spread infection directly through heterosexual contact, bi-sexual sexual contact, and/or indirectly through homosexual sexual contact. Evidence-based interventions (EBIs) have been shown to increase consistent condom use, decrease sexual partners, and increase HIV testing; however, traditionally-implemented EBIs may not be accessible to communities given the resources and expertise needed to implement them. This project seeks to: 1) assess feasibility for the development of two theory- based, video podcast-delivered, HIV prevention interventions for self-identified heterosexual African American males and females; and 2) evaluate their feasibility & effectiveness (pilot). The investigators will develop the two (male and female) video podcasts that maintain the theoretical integrity of two established Centers for Disease Control evidence-based behavioral HIV prevention interventions. The assessment phase will consist of leveraging African American community stakeholders and experts in the development of the podcast content. The effectiveness phase will consist of broadcasting the podcasts for participants and evaluating psychosocial factors related to HIV prevention at 1 and 3 month follow-ups. This intervention is the first of its kind and has the potential to increase HIV protective behaviors in this hard-to-reach and medically underserved population. The resulting interventions are expected to be easily disseminated throughout the African American communities, with the potential to reduce HIV- related disparities within this population. This study will impact and advance the field by demonstrating feasibility and effectiveness for a novel mode of intervention engagement within HIV prevention science, serve as valuable preliminary data for a larger R01 trial, and foster HIV prevention awareness within the African American community.

The video podcast will deliver HIV prevention messages using entertainment education and behavioral journalism, and film production techniques such as "talking head" video, interview, animations, & live-action skits. The research team will work closely with the production company in scripting the video vignettes and sequences, ensuring that video content reflects salient domains captured in the concept mapping research development phase of the study.

To observe whether the podcast video significantly changed perceptions of HIV prevention. Items will be set to 5-pt Likert-type scale: (1) - (5); higher scale values indicating more positive perceptions to cervical cancer prevention

HIV test behavior: Have you obtained a HIV test (-you will not be required to disclose the results of this test)? (single item)

HIV test behavior: Have you obtained a HIV test (-you will not be required to disclose the results of this test)? (single item)

Inclusion Criteria: self-identify as African American speak and read English 18 years old or older not currently or previously diagnosed with HIV Exclusion Criteria: • currently or previously diagnosed with HIV

Because this is a feasibility study with a low sample size, the data is preliminary and it is not certain that the data will be appropriate or useful for public dissemination.