The Multimedia HIV/STI Prevention for Drug-Involved Female Offenders

Summary

The proposed study addresses a significant public health threat of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among drug involved women on probation, parole or other community supervision. This randomized controlled trial aims to test the efficacy of a multimedia version of a 4-session, gender-specific, integrated drug use and HIV/STI prevention intervention (Multimedia Women On the Road To Health (WORTH)) in increasing condom use and decreasing the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among 420 drug-involved, female offenders in a large community court setting in New York City, compared to a non-media version of the same intervention (Traditional WORTH) and to a 4-session Wellness Promotion condition.

Conditions

• HIV
• Sexually Transmitted Infections

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Multimedia WORTH

The Multimedia WORTH intervention features the same core elements as the original version, but these core elements are translated into interactive tools and culturally tailored video vignettes designed to enhance group learning and individualized feedback. Participants will interact with Multimedia WORTH at two levels: (1) group materials will be delivered via computer projection onto a screen and (2) participants will complete individual activities and create journal logs tracking their progress on personalized goals on their personal user accounts using laptop computers. The computer multimedia support tool includes text, imagery, animations, audio and video in a format that guide the facilitator's delivery of the intervention. \*\*\*To view pilot features of the Multimedia WORTH intervention in development, please visit the following web address: http://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/worth/presentation

BEHAVIORAL

Traditional WORTH

The basic format of each WORTH session remains consistent following a sequence of 5 steps: (1) an opening (quote, song, poem) which will provide a brief culturally relevant point of inspiration to engage participants (2) Check-in to review material from the previous session, and to discuss any incidents where participants engaged in risk behaviors and to acknowledge positive ways in which women used new skills to avoid HIV risk; (3) a discussion to raise awareness of links between IPV, drug-related activities, and HIV risks; (4) a skills-building component relevant to the discussion; and (5) review and update participant needs, homework assigned for skills-building at home, and a closing ritual. The WORTH intervention consists of four 2-hour group sessions that are led by a female facilitator.

BEHAVIORAL

Wellness Promotion

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Center for Court Innovation

  collaborator OTHER

• Bronx Community Solutions

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• New York City Department of Probation

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

  collaborator NIH

• Columbia University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Nabila El-Bassel, Ph.D. · Columbia University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2009-11-30

Primary Completion

2013-03-31

Completion

2013-03-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations