Rasheeta Chandler

Ethnic and Racial Differences in HPV Knowledge and Vaccine Intentions among Men Receiving HPV Test Results

We examined factors associated with HPV vaccine intentions by racial/ethnic group among men participating in a HPV natural history study. HPV knowledge, vaccine intentions and perceived barriers were assessed among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men. Men were tested for HPV every 6 months. After receiving test results from their previous visit, participants (N=477) reported their intentions for HPV vaccination in a computer-assisted survey instrument (CASI). Vaccine intentions were high among all respondents, although differences were found between racial and ethnic groups in awareness and knowledge of HPV and, vaccine intentions and perceived access and barriers to receiving the HPV vaccine. In order to effectively disseminate the vaccine among men, factors that may promote or inhibit vaccine acceptability need to be identified. Identifying these factors related to vaccine intentions among minority and majority men offers an opportunity for addressing barriers to health equity and, in turn, reductions in HPV-related disparities.

Men's responses to HPV test results: development of a theory-based survey.

OBJECTIVE To develop and perform psychometric testing on an instrument designed to assess cognitive/emotional responses among men receiving HPV testing. METHODS Men enrolled in an HPV natural history study (N = 139) completed a computer-assisted survey instrument based on Leventhals parallel processing/common-sense model. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Mplus. RESULTS Reliability analyses resulted in Cronbach alpha of 0.72 (knowledge), 0.86 (perceived threat), 0.83 (self-efficacy), and 0.55 (response efficacy). A revised measurement model exhibited evidence of construct validity, as indicated by acceptable model fit statistics. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this is the only validated instrument assessing mens reactions to an HPV test result.

Pap Test Adherence, Cervical Cancer Perceptions, and HPV Knowledge Among HIV-Infected Women in a Community Health Setting

&NA; The Health Belief Model (HBM) has been widely used as a framework to explain health behaviors in diverse populations, but little HBM research has focused on HIV‐infected women and their increased risks for cervical cancer. We used Champions Health Belief Model and Self‐Efficacy scales to assess relationships between Pap test adherence and constructs of the HBM among 300 HIV‐infected women. In addition, we assessed the relationship between HPV and cervical cancer knowledge and key HBM concepts. Participants reported low levels of knowledge regarding risk for cervical cancer and HPV. They perceived lower personal risk for cervical cancer. Women with higher perceived self‐efficacy and lower perceived barrier scores reported better Pap test adherence. Findings indicate that HIV‐infected women are not aware of the risk for cervical cancer and may not take preventive actions. Further research is needed to identify the full range of factors that impact adherence to cervical cancer screening.

college women's preferred HIV prevention message mediums: mass media versus interpersonal relationships.

&NA; One quarter of HIV cases occur in women ages 15–44 years. We investigated preferential HIV prevention message mediums among college women (18–21 years of age) and their association with parent and partner communication. A nonexperimental cross‐sectional survey assessed factors associated with parent and partner communication among 626 single female students who were sexually active in the previous 6 months and attending a 4‐year public university in Florida. Women who perceived themselves to be at elevated risk of acquiring HIV were more likely to communicate with their parents (p < .05), but not their partners. In multivariable analysis, students were more likely to communicate about sexual risk behavior with their parents when mothers were younger and when less influenced by their peers. Reading items on the Internet about intravenous drug use and HIV were independently associated with higher parent and partner communication, respectively. Findings can guide future HIV prevention communication interventions.

Perceptions of Black College Women on Barriers to HIV-Risk Reduction and Their HIV Prevention Intervention Needs

HIV prevention interventions can help college students engage in safe sexual behaviors. We used the Information, Motivation, Behavioral Skills model to frame four focus group discussions with Black women (n = 32) attending a historically Black college/university or a traditional university to understand their HIV prevention needs. Participants wanted clear information about sexually transmitted infections/HIV and access to contraception. Motivators for practicing safe sex were related to cultural and religious expectations, desire to avoid pregnancy, and conscious efforts to defy racial stereotypes. Barriers to practicing safe sex included issues of accountability, stigma associated with accessing HIV testing/prevention services, and media influences. We found general consensus about the need to develop skill‐building HIV prevention interventions focused on communication skills, condom negotiation, access to services, and empowerment. We offer insight into culture‐ and age‐appropriate HIV prevention for Black college women to guide the development of future interventions.

Listening to Voices and Visualizing Data in Qualitative Research

One of the tenets of qualitative research is the emphasis and honoring of the participants’ own words as generative of meaning and knowledge; yet it is rare to hear the actual voices of the research participants in a presentation or in text. Qualitative research dissemination has relied on dense transcribed text; these “mountains of words” do not lend themselves to the space limitations of academic journals or condensed visual elements such as summary charts, tables, or graphs. Technological advancements have the potential to revolutionize dissemination efforts, especially for qualitative research. The use of audio clips in poster and oral presentations, as well as embedded within written manuscripts plays with the interstices between the research participants and the observer. Infograms are effective ways of conveying a story visually. We demonstrate how combining audio clips and infographics can be a unique hypermodal dissemination possibility for qualitative results.

Considering Music Lyrics and Imagery in the Sexual Health of Black College Students A Pilot Study

Sexual risk taking and potential sequelae such as sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, may be related to music videos that display suggestive imagery and lyrics. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore characteristics of music lyrics and imagery that might have implications on sexual arousal in Black college students. For four consecutive weeks, the top 20 Hip Hop/R&B music tracks from the official Billboard Charts website were selected. A convenience sample of 27 self-identified Black college students aged 18 to 24 were asked to rate the sexually explicit content in each video. There was a modest association between visual sexual explicitness scores for each video and scores on the Sexual Arousal and Desire Inventory (SADI) for females, and a strong association between visual sexual explicitness for each video and scores on the SADI for males.

Media Preferences That Facilitate Interpersonal Communication Regarding Sexual Health: Racial Differences Among College-Aged Females

Young women are increasingly diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. The aim of this study was to test various types of mass media and their associations with interpersonal communication about sex and HIV or AIDS among female college students, stratified by race. The study used a nonexperimental cross-sectional design and an electronic survey. The sample consisted of female college students (N = 776) at a 4-year public university in the southeast. We found that the race of college women influenced their preferred media source for reception of information about sex and HIV/AIDS, which subsequently either motivated or was insignificant to communication with parents and/or partners.