Prevention of HIV/AIDS and STDs in Women Over Fifty
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Healthy Studies, Infectious Disease, HIV / AIDS |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Immunology / Infectious Diseases, Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 50 - Any |
| Updated: | 1/20/2019 |
| Start Date: | September 1, 2009 |
| End Date: | June 30, 2018 |
In response to the increasing rates of HIV/STD infections among women over the age of 50,
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, the
investigators will create, test, and commercialize a novel positive psychology-based
"SmartWeb" 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.
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, the
investigators will create, test, and commercialize a novel positive psychology-based
"SmartWeb" 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.
Older adult women (age 50+) 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. The 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, the Phase II objectives are to create, test, and commercialize a positive
psychology-based "SmartWeb" 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: 1) Create the SmartWeb intervention; 2) Evaluate its
effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of divorced/separated women over 50; and
3) Prepare marketing and commercialization plans for the SmartWeb intervention.
Consistent with Phase I objectives, i.e., developing content to address Stages 1-3 of the
M-AARM theoretical model, the proposed Phase II includes new components to address M-AARM
Stages 4-5. The Phase II is also responsive to Phase I evaluation findings, including the
desire for mobile access, membership; video interviews with experts in women'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 1-3 of the M-ARRM theoretical model.
The investigators are supported in these efforts through 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 50, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Statewide Consumer Advisory Board on
HIV/AIDS, Brigham & Women's Hospital Women's Health Center) and in Columbia (South Carolina
Lieutenant Governor'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)
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. The 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, the Phase II objectives are to create, test, and commercialize a positive
psychology-based "SmartWeb" 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: 1) Create the SmartWeb intervention; 2) Evaluate its
effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of divorced/separated women over 50; and
3) Prepare marketing and commercialization plans for the SmartWeb intervention.
Consistent with Phase I objectives, i.e., developing content to address Stages 1-3 of the
M-AARM theoretical model, the proposed Phase II includes new components to address M-AARM
Stages 4-5. The Phase II is also responsive to Phase I evaluation findings, including the
desire for mobile access, membership; video interviews with experts in women'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 1-3 of the M-ARRM theoretical model.
The investigators are supported in these efforts through 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 50, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Statewide Consumer Advisory Board on
HIV/AIDS, Brigham & Women's Hospital Women's Health Center) and in Columbia (South Carolina
Lieutenant Governor'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)
Inclusion Criteria:
- divorced or separated women
- 50 years of age and older
- who are dating or thinking of dating in the near future
- HIV negative
- access to internet via computer or smartphone
- English primary language
Exclusion Criteria:
- currently married
- HIV positive
- participating in another research study or clinical trial
- do not own home computer with internet access or smartphone
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