Environment And Health Group, Inc. — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase II: NIA

Description

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Older adult women age account for almost a third of the U S HIV AIDS population and infection rates among this group are increasing The overall goal of the proposed Phase II application is to develop a culturally sensitive gender specific and age appropriate HIV prevention intervention for older women especially African American and Latino women who are at disproportionally high risk for HIV STD infection Our target population is the growing number of divorced separated older women for whom interventions have not been developed and due to cohort and social contextual factors are likely unaware that they are at risk and more likely than single never married women to forgo condom use Building on Phase I and ARRA study results our Phase II objectives are to create test and commercialize a positive psychology based andquot SmartWebandquot intervention to promote wellbeing and safe sex practices among culturally diverse older divorced or separated women who are dating or planning on dating Specific Phase II Aims are Create the SmartWeb intervention Evaluate its effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial RCT of divorced separated women over and Prepare marketing and commercialization plans for the SmartWeb intervention Consistent with our Phase I objectives i e developing content to address Stages of the M AARM theoretical model the proposed Phase II includes new components to address M AARM Stages The Phase II is also responsive to Phase I evaluation findings including the desire for mobile access membership video interviews with experts in womenandapos s health positive aging HIV STD prevention in culturally diverse communities safe sex negotiation strategies and gray divorce online community and positive psychology based self efficacy and affect boosting emails as well as expanded versions of Phase I components to reinforce stages of the M ARRM theoretical model We are supported in these efforts through our partnerships in both Boston MA and Columbia SC the sites for the randomized controlled trial Participating partners include those providing commercialization support Global Protection Corp USC Columbia Incubator SC Launch Moker CPCA recruitment and marketing support in Boston New England Association of HIV over Massachusetts Department of Public Health Statewide Consumer Advisory Board on HIV AIDS Brigham andamp Womenandapos s Hospital Womenandapos s Health Center and in Columbia South Carolina Lieutenant Governorandapos s Office on Aging South Carolina HIV AIDS Council AID Upstate in South Carolina Lowcountry AIDS Services United Way Association of South Carolina South Carolina Primary Care Association Columbia Housing Authority in South Carolina Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services and content and technology development and support University of South Carolina College of Social Work and Department of Computer Science and Engineering South Carolina HIV AIDS Council Blueberry Hill Productions PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE In response to the increasing rates of HIV STD infections among women over the age of especially minority women and in the attempt to reduce HIV STD risks for over ten million older adult American women who are impacted by gray divorce and at risk for unsafe sex we create test and commercialize a novel positive psychology based andquot SmartWebandquot intervention to promote wellbeing HIV STD awareness and safe sex practices among culturally diverse older divorced or separated women who are dating This large end user market for the proposed HIV STD risk reduction intervention will greatly facilitate commercialization through advertisements marketing research based on data mining and in collaboration with manufacturers of condoms and other large companies offering health products and services to older women