Citation
Budhwani, Henna; Maragh-Bass, Allysha C.; Tolley, Elizabeth E.; Comello, Maria Leonora G.; Stoner, Marie C. D.; Adams Larsen, Margo; Brambilla, Donald; Muessig, Kathryn E.; Pettifor, Audrey E.; & Bond, Christyenne L., et al. (2023). Tough Talks COVID-19 Digital Health Intervention for Vaccine Hesitancy among Black Young Adults: Protocol for Hybrid Type 1 Effectiveness Implementation Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 13(12), e41240. PMCID: PMC9930921Abstract
BACKGROUND: Interventions to increase the uptake of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination among Black young adults are central to ending the pandemic. Black young adults experience harms from structural forces such as racism and stigma that reduce receptivity to traditional public health messaging. As such, Black young adults continue to represent a priority population to focus efforts promoting COVID-19 vaccine uptake.OBJECTIVE: In Aims 1 and 2, the Tough Talks for HIV disclosure digital health intervention will be adapted to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and tailored for Black young adults in the southern United States (Tough Talks for COVID-19). In Aim 3, the newly adapted Tough Talks for COVID-19 digital health intervention will be tested across three Southern States, namely Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina.
METHODS: This innovative digital health intervention study includes both qualitative and quantitative assessments. A unique combination of methodological techniques, including online surveys, choose-your-own-adventures, digital storytelling, user acceptability testing, and community based participatory approaches, will culminate in a hybrid type 1 effectiveness implementation two-arm randomized controlled trial where participants (N=180) will be randomized to receive the Tough Talks for COVID-19 intervention or a standard of care control condition. Logistic regression will be used to determine the effect of treatment arm on the probability of vaccination uptake: primary COVID-19 vaccine series or recommended boosters. Concurrently, inner and outer contexts of implementation will be ascertained and catalogued to inform future scale-up.
RESULTS: This study was funded at the end of April 2021. Florida State University's Institutional Review Board approved this study. Aim 1 data collection concluded in early 2022. The entire study is expected to conclude in January 2025.
CONCLUSIONS: If effective, this digital health intervention will be poised for rapid dissemination broadly, to reduce COVID-19 mortality among unvaccinated Black young adults in the southern United States. Findings have the potential to inform efforts that seek to address medical mistrust through participatory approaches. Lessons learned from the conduct of this study could be instrumental in improving healthcare engagement among Black young adults related to several critical areas that disproportionately harm this community (e.g., tobacco control, diabetes, etc).
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/41240Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2023Journal Title
JMIR Research ProtocolsAuthor(s)
Budhwani, HennaMaragh-Bass, Allysha C.
Tolley, Elizabeth E.
Comello, Maria Leonora G.
Stoner, Marie C. D.
Adams Larsen, Margo
Brambilla, Donald
Muessig, Kathryn E.
Pettifor, Audrey E.
Bond, Christyenne L.
Toval, Christina
Hightow-Weidman, Lisa B.
Article Type
RegularPMCID
PMC9930921Data Set/Study
Tough Talks for COVID-19 InterventionContinent/Country
United States of AmericaState
AlabamaGeorgia
North Carolina