264989 Experiences of women living with HIV participating in an innovative video-group intervention at private community-based locations

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 8:45 AM - 9:00 AM

Stephanie L. Marhefka, PhD , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Akilah Benton, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Vickie Lynn, MPH, MSW , Department of Community and Family Health; College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Quiviya Eldridge, BA , Department of Community and Family Health; College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Bernice Lopez, MPH , Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Hollie J. Fuhrmann, MA , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Eric R. Buhi, MPH, PhD , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Julie Baldwin, PhD , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Robert Glueckauf , Medical Humanities & Social Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL
     
Background: To expand access to evidence-based interventions, Healthy Relationships (HR), a group-based intervention, was adapted and delivered via video-phones within an ongoing trial. This presentation reports participants' experience with HR video-groups. Methods: Eligible WLH were: > age 18; sexually active (last 3 months); and not previously HR-exposed. Experiences were assessed via computer survey at multiple time-points. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and correlations were conducted. Results: WLH participants (N=43; M age = 42.8 years; SD = 8.5) were primarily African-American/Black (60%) or Caucasian (34.3%). At baseline, most (75.6%) reported comfort with computers. Many (63.4%) used the Internet weekly, yet a minority had home computers (41.5%) or home Internet (35.0%). Women uncomfortable (vs. comfortable) with computers at baseline were not significantly less comfortable expressing feelings/thoughts during session one, but did report the video-phone distracted them more from paying attention to group members (p<.05). Daily Internet users (vs. others) were significantly more comfortable speaking with group members over video-phone during session one (p<.05). Immediately post-intervention, participants reported feeling unity/togetherness with group members (93.0%), and feeling free to share opinions during the intervention (97.6%). Post-intervention satisfaction and intervention quality ratings were high. Quality ratings were significantly correlated with getting desired information and support, and satisfaction with: intervention location, facilitators, privacy and confidentiality, and the overall experience (all p's <.05); satisfaction and quality ratings were not related to previous computer/Internet/video-conferencing experience. Conclusion: Most WLH were comfortable and satisfied with their video-group experience regardless of previous computer/Internet/video-conferencing experience. Implications for technology-based public health practice will be discussed.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the experiences of WLH who participated in a video-group intervention. 2. Discuss the impact of prior Internet/computer use and comfort on overall video-group experience. 3. Describe implications of this video-group research for public health practice.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Behavioral Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a behavioral scientist who has been working in the field for the past 12 years
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3041.0: Domestic Issues in HIV Prevention