Testing the efficacy of a brief sexual risk reduction intervention among high-risk American Indian adults: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Rachel Chambers, Lauren Tingey, Anna Beach, Allison Barlow, Anne Rompalo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: American Indian adults are more likely to experience co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders than adults of other racial/ethnic groups and are disproportionately burdened by the most common sexually transmitted infections, namely chlamydia and gonorrhea. Several behavioral interventions are proven efficacious in lowering risk for sexually transmitted infection in various populations and, if adapted to address barriers experienced by American Indian adults who suffer from mental health and substance use problems, may be useful for dissemination in American Indian communities. The proposed study aims to examine the efficacy of an adapted evidence-based intervention to increase condom use and decrease sexual risk-taking and substance use among American Indian adults living in a reservation-based community in the Southwestern United States. Methods/Design: The proposed study is a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of an adapted evidence-based intervention compared to a control condition. Participants will be American Indian adults ages 18-49 years old who had a recent episode of binge substance use and/or suicide ideation. Participants will be randomized to the intervention, a two-session risk-reduction counseling intervention or the control condition, optimized standard care. All participants will be offered a self-administered sexually transmitted infection test. Participants will complete assessments at baseline, 3 and 6 months follow-up. The primary outcome measure is condom use at last sex. Discussion: This is one of the first randomized controlled trials to assess the efficacy of an adapted evidence-based intervention for reducing sexual risk behaviors among AI adults with substance use and mental health problems. If proven successful, there will be an efficacious program for reducing risk behaviors among high-risk adults that can be disseminated in American Indian communities as well as other rural and under-resourced health systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number366
JournalBMC public health
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 29 2016

Keywords

  • American Indian
  • Counseling
  • Prevention
  • Risk-reduction
  • Sexually transmitted infection
  • Substance use
  • Suicide ideation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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